Subshrubs, 70-100 cm, often woody in proximal ¹ / 3 +. Stems erect to spreading, branched in distal ² / 3 ; mid internodes 5-20+ mm. Leaves relatively sparse, crowded proximally, widely spreading, little reduced distally, margins pinnatifid to 2-pinnatifid, lobes often linear, 3-15+ mm, mostly entire, faces glabrous or sparsely hairy, stipitate-glandular. Heads mostly borne singly. Peduncles 2-15+ cm, bracteate. Involucres 15-25 mm wide. 2n = 8, 16.

Flowering winter-spring. Rocky to sandy washes, slopes, and roadsides; 200-1700 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).