Plants 5-12(-20) cm (sometimes weakly cespitose, caudices multicipital or with relatively short branches; rhizomes fibrous-rooted, thickened, becoming woody). Stems proximally herbaceous or slightly woody, eglandular. Leaves: proximal separated by evident internodes, spatulate, reduced in size distally; mid and distal ovate to oblong or linear, 4-15 mm, margins narrowly whitish hyaline, faces densely scabrous-hispidulous. Heads borne singly. Involucres 7-10 mm. Disc florets bisexual, fertile; corollas 5.5-7.5 mm. Cypselae 5-6 mm, faces eglandular. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering May-Jul. Dry ridges, slopes, and flats, commonly with sagebrush; 1300-2000(-3300) m; Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wyo.