Perennials, 1-2 cm (usually ± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1(-5+) mm, ± villous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± spatulate, 6-12(-15+) × 1-3+ mm, little, if at all, fleshy or notably thickened, faces of earliest leaves glabrous or glabrate, of later leaves ± villous to pilosulous. Heads ± sessile or at ends of leafy stems. Involucres ± hemispheric, (12-)16-30+ mm diam. Phyllaries 45-60+ in 5+ series, the longer narrowly lanceolate to subulate, 9-11 mm (l/w = 7-9), apices attenuate, abaxial faces ± pilose. Ray florets 21-65+; corollas white adaxially, laminae 8-12(-16+) mm, glandular-puberulent abaxially. Disc florets 100-150+; corollas 4-6+ mm. Cypselae 3-4.5 mm, faces hairy, hair tips entire; pappi readily falling, of 25-30 subulate to setiform scales 5-8 mm (± connate basally).

Flowering Jun-Aug. Rocky slopes and talus; 3000-3600 m; Alta.; Calif., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wyo.

The name Townsendia condensata has been attributed to Parry ex D. C. Eaton or to D. C. Eaton. In February 1874 (Amer. Naturalist 8: 106), Parry used T. condensata provisionally and provided a diagnosis. In April that year, he used it as an accepted name and 'validated' it by reference to his earlier diagnosis.