Annuals, 15-75 cm. Stems and branches stipitate-glandular, more densely distally, often also with appressed or erect hairs. Distal leaf blades sessile, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, smallest 2-10 × 0.5-1.5 mm. Involucres broadly turbinate to hemispheric, 2-4 mm. Phyllaries lanceolate to linear, slightly unequal, 1.5-3.5 × 0.2-0.6 mm, bases indurate, margins scarious. Receptacles flat to convex, 1.5-2.5 mm diam. Ray florets 15-40; laminae 1-4 × 0.2-0.5 mm. Disc florets 15-35; corollas 1.5-2.5 mm. Ray cypselae 1-1.5 mm, moderately appressed-hairy. Disc cypselae 1.3-2 mm, moderately appressed-hairy; pappi 20-25, 2-2.5 mm. 2n = 18 (Mexico).

Flowering May-Oct. Fields, roadsides, stream banks, open areas in oak and pine-oak woodlands; 1300-2100 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico; South America (Colombia, Peru).

In the flora area, Psilactis brevilingulata occurs in the Chihuahuan Desert regions of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas.