Perennials, 30-50 cm (polycarpic; often with moderately branched, woody caudices). Stems 3-10(-15), green throughout or purple-red-tinted proximally, branched distally, glabrous or ± sparsely hairy. Leaves: blades simple or lobed (lobes 3-13), glabrous or sparsely hairy, gland-dotted; mid leaves lobed (lobes 3-7, terminal lobes 1.5-2.3 mm wide). Heads 10-85+ per plant, in paniculiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles (1-)2-4.5 cm, glabrous or ± hairy. Involucres subhemispheric to campanulate, 8-11 × 12-15 mm. Phyllaries in 2 series, unequal; outer 10-12, basally connate ¹/4-¹/2 their lengths (moderately to strongly keeled), ovate to lanceolate, 4.5-7 mm, apices acuminate to acute; inner 13-18(-28), obovate, 4-6 mm, apices usually mucronate. Ray florets 9-12; corollas yellow, 10-16 × 4-6.5 mm. Disc florets 50-125+; corollas 3.5-4.2 mm. Cypselae obpyramidal to narrowly obpyramidal, 2.5-3.5 mm; pappi of 5(-6) obovate, aristate scales (1.5-)2.1-2.8 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering (Jun-)Jul-Aug(-Sep). Roadsides, open areas, meadows, on slopes, along drainages and streams; (800-)1400-2200(-3200) m; Calif., Nev., Utah.