Annuals, 20-120 cm. Stems and branches often sparsely appressed- or erect-hairy, stipitate-glandular, more densely distally. Distal leaf blades ovate to lanceolate, smallest 5-12 × 2-6 mm, bases cordate to auriculate, clasping. Involucres hemispheric, 5-8 mm. Phyllaries lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, equal or slightly unequal, 4-7 × 0.7-1.2 mm; outer often mostly herbaceous (bases inconspicuously indurate), scarious margins absent or obscured by stipitate glands; inner: bases indurate, margins scarious. Receptacles flat to convex, 4-6 mm diam. Ray florets 30-70; laminae 7-14 × 1-1.5 mm. Disc florets 50-150; corollas 2.5-4.5 mm. Ray cypselae 1.2-2 mm, sparsely to densely appressed-hairy. Disc cypselae 1.2-2.5 mm, sparsely to densely appressed-hairy; pappus bristles 40-50, 2.5-4 mm. 2n = 8 (Mexico).

Flowering Sep-Nov. Canyon bottoms, along rocky streambeds; 1700-2300 m; Ariz.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico, Sonora).

Psilactis gentryi occurs in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona.