Plants 40-75+ cm. Stems proximally usually glabrous, sometimes piloso-hirsute (hairs 3-6+ mm), distally glabrous or stellate-pubescent, sometimes piloso-hirsute (hairs 1-3+ mm) and stipitate-glandular as well. Leaves: basal 3-12+, cauline (1-)3-6; blades oblanceolate to lanceolate, 35-120(-200) × 10-25(-30+) mm, lengths 3-6+ times widths, bases cuneate to truncate (distal leaves), margins usually entire, sometimes denticulate or toothed, apices obtuse to acute, faces piloso-hirsute (hairs 2-3+ mm). Heads (5-)12-30(-60+) in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles piloso-hirsute (hairs 0.5-1+ mm), stellate-pubescent, and stipitate-glandular. Calyculi: bractlets 3-8+. Involucres ± campanulate, 6-8+ (× 4-5) mm. Phyllaries 13-18+, apices ± rounded, abaxial faces piloso-hirsute (hairs 0.5-1+ mm), stellate-pubescent, and stipitate-glandular. Florets 20-24+; corollas yellow, 6-9 mm. Cypselae (usually black, sometimes red-brown) columnar, 2-3 mm; pappi of 36-40+, white or stramineous bristles in ± 2 series, 3.5-5 mm.

Flowering Apr, Jul-Aug. Disturbed sites, openings in pine, oak, and pine-oak forests; 2000-2600 m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico; Central America.