Shrubs, 50-150 cm. Leaves alternate or opposite; petioles 3.5-30 mm; blades broadly ovate, 2.8-9 × 2.3-6.5 cm, margins entire, faces: abaxial sericeous and gland-dotted (and strongly reticulate, not shiny), adaxial sericeous (hair bases slightly enlarged). Heads 3-9(-25). Peduncles 0.5-5 cm. Involucres campanulate to hemispheric, 10-15 × 6-9 mm. Phyllaries 18-25, 2.5-5 × 1.2-2 mm. Paleae oblanceolate, 4-8 mm. Ray florets 8-15; laminae 7-15 mm. Disc florets 40+; corollas 3-5.5 mm. Cypselae 2.5-4 mm; pappi of 2 lacerate, aristate scales 1.5-2.8 mm and 2-6 lacerate scales 0.6-1 mm. 2n = 36.

Flowering Mar-Jun. Xeric scrub, desert grottoes and canyons; 600-1400 m; Calif., Nev.