Annuals, biennials, or short-lived perennials. Stems 1+, ascending, canescent, sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular; branches loosely spreading to ascending, flexible and curved. Mid leaf blades linear to oblanceolate. Peduncles equaling or longer than involucres. Involucres narrowly to broadly turbinate, 6-10 mm. Phyllaries in 5-10 series, spreading to reflexed, apices usually stipitate-glandular, often also canescent. Ray florets pistillate, fertile. Cypselae sparsely appressed-hairy. 2n = 8.

Flowering Jul-Nov. Grasslands, pine forests, sagebrush scrublands; 1000-3000 m; Alta., B.C., Sask.; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Dak., Oreg., S.Dak., Utah, Wyo.

Variety canescens is the most widespread variety of this species and is encountered in the western Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, eastern Sierra Nevada, and intermountain regions. Its range adjoins that of all the other varieties, and intergradation is common in areas of contact. Taxa that var. canescens intergrades with include var. ambigua in Utah, var. aristata in Colorado and Utah, var. glabra in Colorado, var. incana in Idaho and Washington, var. leucanthemifolia in California and Utah, var. nebraskana in Nebraska and South Dakota, var. sessiliflora in Idaho, var. shastensis in California, Nevada, and Oregon, and var. ziegleri in California. Variety canescens intergrades also with Dieteria bigelovii in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.