Plants 15-40(-60) cm. Basal leaves: blades oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, 20-30(-40) cm, margins entire or ± serrate-dentate (often undulate), faces glabrous or finely stipitate-glandular, sometimes sparsely pilosulous as well (usually shining); cauline leaves similar, smaller. Heads usually borne singly (-2+). Involucres hemispheric or broader, 35-60+ mm diam. Phyllaries 22-24+, unequal, herbaceous, margins not ciliate, faces glabrous or abaxial finely stipitate-glandular; outer (30-)40-70 mm (foliaceous, much surpassing discs). Ray florets (8-)12-27; laminae 15-25(-35) mm. Cypselae 10-13 mm, puberulent and/or finely stipitate-glandular (at least distally).

Flowering Mar-May(-Jun). Shady sites, dry foothills; 10-800 m; Calif.

Wyethia glabra grows in the Coast Ranges, often in the fog belt.