Perennials (clumped; ± taprooted or roots branched). Proximal leaves mostly alternate; blades rhombic to oblanceolate, pinnately lobed (usually in distal part of leaf, lobes 3-5, oblong or triangular), ultimate margins entire or dentate, revolute, abaxial faces loosely cobwebby-woolly, adaxial glabrate. Heads 2-4 per array or borne singly. Peduncles mostly 3-10 cm. Involucres 9-15 mm diam. Ray florets 8-15; laminae 8-10 mm. Cypselae (1.8-)2-3.2(-4) mm; pappi 0-0.2 mm. 2n = 16, 32.

Flowering Apr-Jul. Ocean bluffs, inland sites, with conifers; 0-700 m; Calif.

Variety arachnoideum merges with var. grandiflorum in coastal northern California, where intermediates with pappi to 1.3 mm may be found. Variety arachnoideum is morphologically similar to var. croceum; their distributions are disjunct.