Perennials, 10-22(-27) cm, tap-rooted, caudices usually simple, rarely with branches to 20 cm. Stems ascending to decumbent-ascending (usually basally purplish), sparsely to densely strigose (basal cells inclined, hairs even-width), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; blades (strongly to weakly 3-nerved) oblanceolate to spatulate-oblanceolate, 30-100 × (3-)5-12(-14) mm, cauline gradually reduced distally or not, usually continuing to near heads, margins entire, faces hirsuto-pilose to weakly pilose, eglandular. Heads 1(-4) (on peduncles 0.5-5) cm, held well beyond leaves at peak flowering, from branches near midstem or slightly more distal). Involucres (5-)6-7 × 9-12(-14) mm. Phyllaries in 2-3(-4) series, (elliptic- to oblong-oblanceolate, abruptly acuminate), hirsuto-strigose to -pilose, densely villous at bases, usually eglandular, sometimes sparsely glandular. Ray florets (16-)21-33; corollas white to pinkish or purplish, 10-12 mm, laminae not (or weakly) coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 3.2-3.8 mm. Cypselae 2-2.5 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 16-20 bristles.

Flowering Jun-Aug. Dry, barren meadows and openings in mixed conifer woodlands; of conservation concern; 1300-1500 m; Calif.