Plants 19-34 cm. Stems (2-)5-20(-30+), glabrous or ± hairy. Leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy. Heads (30-)80-250(-300+) per plant. Involucres 7-8 × 7-9 mm. Phyllaries: outer 8-9, strongly keeled, obovate, ovate, or lanceolate, 3.5-6 mm, apices acute; inner 8-12, 3-5 mm. Ray florets 7-9; corollas 7-11 mm. Disc florets 25-50+; corollas 3-4 mm. Cypselae 2 mm; pappi of (4-)5 obovate, aristate scales 1.8-2.8 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering (May-)Jul-Aug(-Oct). Roadsides, open areas, edges of forests; (1600-)1800-2700(-3400) m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Tex., Utah.