Plants 15-35 cm. Leaves: petioles 0-4 mm; blades linear to lanceolate, 4-10(-15) × 1-4(-6) mm. Pappi 0, or of single bristles (sometimes plus callous crowns or vestigial, hyaline scales). 2n = 68.

Flowering spring-fall (depending on rains). Rocky slopes; 1300-2500 m; Calif.

Variety oligophylla is ephemeral in northern exposures or protected areas in mountains in the Death Valley region. At least some leaves are linear and the heads and habit are generally smaller than in var. megalocephala.