Subshrubs, (15-)25-40 cm; taproots 1-6+ cm. Stems 5-15+, often much branched in distal ¹ / 2 , moderately stout to stout, not wiry, hispidulous, sometimes minutely stipitate-glandular. Leaves: basal withering by flowering; cauline evenly spaced, oblong to oblanceolate, 15-45 × 4-15 mm, gradually reduced distally, margins evenly, finely or obscurely serrate or serrulate, teeth 12-25 per side, each tipped with white bristle 0.5-2 mm, faces densely hairy, occasionally stipitate-glandular. Peduncles moderately to densely hispidulous or hispid; ebracteate. Involucres depressed-hemispheric, 4-8 × 8-15 mm. Phyllaries in 5-6 series, broadly linear or narrowly lanceolate, 2-7 mm, apices acuminate, often tipped by white seta or bristle, faces densely hairy, stipitate-glandular. Ray florets 20-45; corollas white, tubes 2-3.5 mm, laminae 9-13.5 × 2-3.1 mm. Disc florets 60-120+; corollas 4.6-6.3 mm. Cypselae oblong to obovoid, 2-2.8 mm, 10-18-ribbed, faces moderately whitish to tawny hairy; pappi tawny, 3-5.5 mm, a few abaxial bristles ¹ / 3 length of longest. 2n = 8.

Flowering spring-fall. Calcareous soils, rocky slopes or outcrops; 1300-2600 m; N.Mex., Tex.

Xanthisma blephariphyllum is known from the White and Guadalupe Mountains of southern New Mexico, and the Sierra Diablo, Glass, and Davis mountains of west Texas.