Biennials, 40-150 cm. Leaves 2-pinnate, 8-15 cm, lobes (3-)5-15+ × 0.5-1.5+ mm; cauline 8-30. Heads 20-200 per stem. Pedun-cles 1-5 cm. Phyllaries yellowish, 5-8 × 2-4 mm. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 25-50; corollas whitish, 2.5-3 mm, tubes 1.5-2.2 mm, throats campanulate, 0.8-1.5 mm, lengths 1.5-2 times lobes. Cypselae 3.5-4.5 mm, ± villous; pappi of 16-18 scales 1-1.5(-2) mm. 2n = 34.
Flowering (Apr-)May-Jul(-Aug). Sandy, gravelly, or silty soils, limestone; 50-2100 m; Colo., Kans., Nebr., N.Mex., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Wyo.