Leaf blades mostly 2.5-5 cm, margins pinnately toothed to pinnatifid. Involucres 6-8 m. Phyllary apices usually rounded, sometimes with weakly developed aristae. Florets 12-20. 2n = 12.

Flowering (May-)Aug-Nov. Sandy soils, alkaline or salt flats, desert dunes, often with Saguaro-Prosopis-Larrea, Larrea, Atriplex, Yucca, or mixed shrubs; (-15-)0-900(-1100) m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora).

For the most part, var. eremophila is geographically separate from var. acradenia. In southwestern Nevada many intergrades occur; in San Bernadino County, California, the two taxa appear to be contiguous with little or no intergradation. In the latter area, the taxa apparently are at different ploidy levels.