Plants 3-15 cm. Leaves mostly basal; basal mostly 1-pinnately lobed; cauline (2-)3-fid or entire. Heads 1-3(-4). Involucres 4-5.1 mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering May-Jul. Highly alkaline sites; 1600-2200 m; Calif., Idaho, Nev.

Variety nitrophila grows in northern and central Nevada and in the hills north of Snake River Plains in Idaho.