Perennials, 1-2 cm (± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1 mm, ± strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades ± spatulate, 5-8(-16+) × 1.5-2.5+ mm, little, if at all, fleshy, faces ± strigose. Heads ± sessile. Involucres ± campanulate, 4-8+ mm diam. Phyllaries 24-40+ in 4+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, 4-7 mm (l/w = 2.5-5), sometimes glabrate, apices acute to attenuate, abaxial faces usually sparsely strigillose or glandular-puberulent. Ray florets 13-21; corollas yellow adaxially, laminae 4-6+ mm, glandular-puberulent abaxially. Disc florets 25-60+; corollas 4-5+ mm. Cypselae 2-2.5 mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 10-12 lanceolate to subulate scales 0.5-1+ mm; on disc cypselae 20+ subulate to setiform scales 4-5+ mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Apr-May. Clay hills; of conservation concern; 1500-2500 m; Utah.

Townsendia aprica is questionably distinct from T. jonesii. Townsendia aprica is in the Center for Plant Conservation´s National Collection of Endangered Plants.