Plants 3-12(-20) cm (closely appressed to rocks); glabrate or with transparent, multicellular hairs on petioles, peduncles, and phyllaries. Leaves: petioles 7-25 mm; blades ovate-reniform to ovate-cordate, 10-40 × 8-40 mm, margins unevenly serrate-dentate. Heads borne singly (nodding or erect), 10-12 × 12-14 mm. Peduncles 10-19 mm. Involucres broadly campanulate. Phyllaries 18-28, linear-lanceolate, 6-9 × 1.2-2 mm. Disc florets 20-150; corollas yellow, tubes 1.2-2 mm, throats narrowly funnelform, 2-3.3 mm, lobes 0.7-0.8 mm. Cypselae 2.1-3 mm; pappi of 25-35 bristles 0.5-1.5(-2) mm. 2n = 34 + 1 frag.

Flowering spring-fall. Limestone or igneous cliffs and slopes; of conservation concern; 1600-3000 m; N.Mex.

Perityle cernua is known only from the Organ Mountains of Doña Ana County.