Perennials, 30-150 cm (poly­carpic, often with moderately branched, woody caudices). Stems 1-5(-15), usually purple-red-tinted proximally, branched distally, glabrous or ± hairy. Leaves: blades simple or lobed (lobes 3), glabrous, gland-dotted; mid leaves simple or lobed (lobes 3, terminal lobes 2-4 mm wide). Heads 50-250+ per plant, in corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 1-3.2 cm, glabrous or ± hairy. Involucres campanulate to urceolate, 6-8 × 6-7 mm. Phyllaries in 2 series, unequal; outer 7-9, basally connate ¹/4-¹/3 their lengths, lanceolate, 4.5-6 mm, apices usually rounded; inner 7-11, obovate, 3.5-4.5 mm, apices mucronate. Ray florets 6-8; corollas yellow, 4.5-8 × 2.5-5 mm. Disc florets 25-50+; corollas 2.7-3.2 mm. Cypselae narrowly obpyramidal, 2-3 mm; pappi usually of 5 obovate, sometimes aristate, scales 0.9-1.8 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering Jul-Aug(-Oct). Roadsides, open areas, edges of forests; 1600-2100 m; Ariz., N.Mex.