Shrubs, 30-120 cm. Stems 1-5+, erect (wandlike), unarmed, evenly pannose. Leaves: primaries lance-linear, stiff, pungent, not spinose, 20-60 (× 2-5) mm, tomentose; secondaries (seldom present) spatulate, 8-15 mm, tomentose. Heads 3-6. Peduncles 3-8 mm. Involucres hemispheric, 8 mm. Phyllaries 5-6, oblanceolate. Florets 5-9; corollas yellow to brownish, 8-9 mm. Cypselae ca. 4 mm, copiously pilose (hairs 6-10 mm); pappi 0. 2n = 60.

Flowering spring-summer. Mostly sandy sites, chaparral, coastal sage scrub, sagebrush scrub; 300-1500 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).