Perennials, loosely tomentose or glabrate, taprooted (caudices branched or weakly spreading). Stems 1 or 2-3. Basal leaves: blades narrow, bases tapering, margins subentire or irregularly dentate. Cauline leaves conspicuous (abruptly reduced). 2n = 46, 92.

Flowering late Apr-mid Jul. Rocky, well-drained soils, meadows, coniferous woodlands; 1800-3000 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Utah.

Variety mutabilis is abundant throughout the Colorado Plateau. It may hybridize with P. tridenticulata, P. streptanthifolia, and P. fendleri. T. M. Barkley (1968, 1980) recognized P. neomexicana var. metcalfei, separating the two on degree and location of dentations on the leaf margins and indicating that var. metcalfei was distributed along the Mogollon rim and var. mutabilis was from north of the Mogollon rim.