Leaves all in basal rosettes, living at anthesis, 6-16 × 1.5-3 cm; petiole to ca. 5 cm, shorter than blade; blade oblanceolate, 6-12 cm × 1.5-36 mm, herbaceous to chartaceous, base tapered to a sinuate wing, margins pinnately lobed to 1-3 mm from midrib (lobes mostly 4-6 per side, broadest near apex), apex cuspidate, cusp 1-3 mm, soon falling; main lateral veins pinnate. Inflorescences: axes narrowly 3-5-winged, 20-40(-50) cm × 3-5 mm, hispid (hairs to 1.5 mm), wings to 3 mm wide, each with ± leaflike, linear, hispid appendage 2-8 × 0.2-0.5 cm usually at branch points; nonflowering branches absent, spikelets moderately to densely aggregated at branch tips; internodes mostly 5-10 mm; subtending bracts 5-10 mm, narrowly acuminate or often awned at tips, surfaces and margins hispid; flowers 1-3 per spikelet. Flowers: calyx blue to lavender distally, funnelform, glabrous or minutely hairy on tube, lobes not distinct, expanded portion spreading, 5-7 mm, erose; petals pale yellow, exceeding calyx 2-4 mm. Utricles ca. 5 mm. 2n = 16, 18.

Flowering Mar-Oct. Disturbed coastal areas, vacant lots, old fields, roadsides; 0-300 m; introduced; Calif.; Mediterranean region; w Asia.