Biennials or short-lived perennials. Stems usually 1, erect, canescent, sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular; branches ascending. Mid leaf blades lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate. Peduncles longer to shorter than involucres or 0 (heads sessile). Involucres broadly turbinate, (9-)10-15 mm. Phyllaries in 5-10 series, reflexed, apices usually densely appressed-hairy, sometimes stipitate-glandular, then obscured by hairs. Ray florets pistillate, fertile. Cypselae sparsely to moderately appressed-hairy. 2n = 8.

Flowering Aug-Sep. Grasslands, pine forests, usually in sandy soil; 1000-1500 m; Nebr., S.Dak.