Perennials, 3-7+ cm; rhizomatous (rhizomes creeping, ascending). Stems 1 (often purplish), sparsely lanate or arachno-tomentose, glabrescent. Basal leaves petiolate; blades lyrate to sublyrate (midribs winged) or ovate to orbiculate, 10-20+ × 30-50+ mm, bases tapering to contracted, ultimate margins ± dentate (faces glabrate at flowering). Cauline leaves gradually reduced (sessile; usually bractlike and entire, sometimes larger and pinnatifid). Heads borne singly or 2-6 in compact, cymiform arrays. Peduncles conspicuously bracteate (bractlets red-tipped), densely lanate-tomentose. Calyculi conspicuous (bractlets reddish or purple). Phyllaries 13 or 21, purplish, 6-9 mm, sparsely tomentose. Ray florets 8 or 13; corolla laminae 5-10 mm. Disc florets 30-40+; corolla tubes 2-3 mm, limbs 2.5-3.5 mm. Cypselae 1.5-2 mm, glabrous; pappi 5-6 mm. 2n = 46.

Flowering mid Aug-mid Oct. Talus slopes, rock crevices, above timberline; of conservation concern; 3200-3800 m; Ariz.

Packera franciscana is known only from above timberline in the San Francisco Peaks and is in the Center for Plant Conservation´s National Collection of Endangered Plants. It spreads by extensive rhizomes and is fairly abundant locally.