Biennials, (1-)3-10(-20) cm. Stems decumbent to erect; internodes 5-25 mm, piloso-strigose to strigillose (surfaces seldom hidden by hairs). Leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or linear, 12-30(-50) × 2-7(-9) mm, not fleshy, faces ± strigose to strigillose. Heads at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves). Involucres ± campanulate, 5-20 mm diam. Phyllaries 20-24 in 3-4+ series, the longer ± lance-ovate to lanceolate, 5-9 mm (l/w = 2.5-5), apices acute to acuminate, abaxial faces strigose. Ray florets 8-30+; corollas white or pinkish adaxially, laminae 5-14 mm, abaxially usually glabrous, sometimes glandular-puberulent. Disc florets (8-)20-80(-100+); corollas 3.5-5 mm. Cypselae 3-4 mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 12-20+ lanceolate to subulate scales 0.5-1.5+ mm; on disc cypselae 20-35 subulate to setiform scales 3.5-5.5 mm. 2n = 18. Flowering May-Jun. Open sites, sands, shales, clays with desert scrub, junipers, pinyons; 1500-2000 m; Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.