Plants 2-6 cm. Leaves 1-6 cm, margins narrowly white-crustose. Heads 3-4 cm diam. (often appearing disproportionately large for size of plants). Calyculi: margins of outer bractlets crustose-toothed mostly near apices. Involucres 10-15 mm. Florets 7-14; corollas cream to pale yellow, aging pink or purple, ligules 15-25 mm, exserted 10-20 mm beyond involucres.

Flowering Mar-May. Sandy desert flats, rocky soil, arid grasslands, often with Larrea; 1000-1400 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah.

Glyptopleura setulosa is found in the Mojave desert. Some authors (e.g., P. A. Munz 1974; G. L. Stebbins 1993b) have included G. setulosa within G. marginata. The taxa appear to be readily distinguishable and worthy of recognition as distinct species.