Perennials (sometimes flowering first year). Roots fleshy, clustered. Stems erect, branched distally, ± hairy. Leaves mostly basal; blades linear to oblong, 20-210 × 1-2+ mm, not fleshy, margins entire, faces glabrous or ± hairy. Involucres campanulate to depressed-hemispheric, 9-14 mm. Phyllaries ± persistent, 13-16 in 2 series, elliptic to ovate. Ray florets 8-16; laminae elliptic to oblong, 5-16 mm. Anther appendages deltate to sublanceolate. Cypselae silver-gray, linear to narrowly clavate, to 4 mm, glabrous; pappi 0, or of 1-4 translucent, brown, subulate, aristate scales (sometimes variable or 0 within heads). 2n = 48.

Flowering year round (mostly May-Jun). Grasslands, woodlands, coastal; of conservation concern; 0-500 m; Calif.

Subspecies bakeri is found along the coast in central California. Its most distinctive feature is its fleshy, clustered roots.