Perennials, 1-3 cm (± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1+ mm, glabrous or ± strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 10-35 × 2-7 mm, ± fleshy, faces sparsely strigose or glabrous. Heads ± sessile or on peduncles 5-25+ mm. Involucres ± hemispheric, 12-28+ mm diam. Phyllaries 40-60+ in (3-)4-5+ series, the longer obovate to oblanceolate, 7-9+ mm (l/w = 2.5-5), apices obtuse to acute, abaxial faces glabrous. Ray florets 18-40; corollas blue to purplish adaxially, laminae 8-16 mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 60-100+; corollas 3.5-4.5+ mm. Cypselae 4 mm, faces nearly glabrous (discs) or sparsely hairy (ray, hairs mostly at bases), hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 12-20 lanceolate to subulate scales 0.5-1.5 mm; on disc cypselae 15-30 subulate to setiform scales 3-6 mm. 2n = 36 (apomicts).

Flowering Aug. South slopes; of conservation concern; 3600-4000 m; Colo.

The types of Townsendia rothrockii and T. glabella may be conspecific.