Perennials, 30-50 cm, often woody at base. Stems stiffly erect, usually much branched in proximal ¹ / 2 - ² / 3 ; mid internodes 2-5 mm. Leaves numerous, concentrated in proximal ± ¹ / 2 , spreading to loosely ascending, often much reduced distally, margins of proximal pinnatifid to 2-pinnatifid, of distal coarsely dentate to ± entire, lobes linear to lanceolate, 3-5 mm, faces usually hairy, rarely glabrous, often densely stipitate-glandular. Heads 2-10+ in diffuse arrays. Peduncles relatively terminal and lateral, 0.5-2 cm. Involucres 12-15 mm wide. 2n = 8, 16.

Flowering spring-fall. Clayey to rocky washes, prairies, plains, roadsides; 1000-1800 m; Ariz., N.Mex., Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sonora).

Variety chihuahuanum is a Chihuahuan Desert taxon that extends into the southern United States.