Perennials, 5-40 cm; rhizomatous (fibrous-rooted) or perhaps obscurely taprooted (taproots/primary axes not evident in collections), forming systems of relatively slender rhizomes or rhizomelike caudex branches. Stems erect (bases greenish), sparsely hirsuto-villous (hairs usually retrorse), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; (bases greenish) proximal blades oblanceolate to oblanceolate-spatulate, 20-50 × 3-10 mm, gradually reduced distally, becoming linear (rarely slightly subclasping), margins entire, faces sparsely villous-hirsute, eglandular. Heads 1(-3). Involucres 6-9 × 12-17 mm. Phyllaries in 3-4 series, densely villous to hirsuto-villous, eglandular. Ray florets 45-90; corollas blue to purple, 7-13 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 5-6.5 mm. Cypselae 1.5-2.2 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 18-25 bristles.

Flowering Mar-Jun. Usually in sandy sites, grassy openings in pine woods, burned areas on sandy mesas and ridges, commonly in sagebrush, chaparral, and coastal scrub, often with Adenostoma, Ceanothus; 50-400 m; Calif.

An unequivocal observation of the mode of perennation of this species has not been made.