Plants 50-150 cm. Leaves 8-20(-30) mm, circular to flattened in cross section; axillary leaves 2-10 per fascicle. Phyllaries: midnerves typically not evident on proximal ¹ / 2 , outer and mid subapical resin ducts strongly thickened. Florets 6-12(-14). 2n = 18.

Flowering fall. Sandy or somewhat clayey soils; 100-800 m; Calif.

Variety pachylepis ranges from Riverside to Ventura counties.