Plants 5-15(-25) cm. Stems erect to ascending, sparsely branched from bases, smooth. Leaves: proximal blades narrowly lanceolate to linear, 40-100 × 2-6 mm, ± lax, glabrous; cauline not reduced to scales (mostly 10+ mm). Heads 2-6, borne singly. Involucres cylindric, 18-25 mm × 5-7 mm, apices narrow. Phyllaries 5-6. Florets 5(-7); corollas pale pink to white. Cypselae 10-13 mm, abruptly narrowed below apex, faces rugose, adaxial strongly sulcate. 2n = 18.

Flowering May-June. Arid grasslands on sandy soils; 1100-1600 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Utah.

Variety arizonica is identified by its relatively short size (rarely over 20 cm), branched, leafy stems, and reduced or absent phyllary apical appendages.