Perennials, 10-30 cm (rhizomes stout). Stems 1-3, branches ascending, glabrous. Leaves green (at least cauline) at flowering; blades linear to lanceolate, shallowly runcinate, 2-6 cm (relatively thick and firm), margins pinnately lobed (thickened, usually minutely, sharply spinose, faces glabrous) . Heads borne singly along branches. Peduncles 2-10 mm (bracteate). Calyculi of (6-8) appressed bractlets (unequal, lengths to ¹/2 phyllaries). Involucres 10-14 mm. Florets (8-)10-13. Cypselae tan, 4.5-6 mm, (ribs well developed) faces slightly bumpy, grooved; pappi of 10-15, tan bristles (connate in groups of 2-4, bases persistent), plumose on distal 80%. 2n = 32. Flowering May-Jun. Open, sandy and gravelly slopes in Upper Sonoran Zone, many plant communities, desert mountains; 700-2000 m; Ariz., Calif. Nev., Utah.

Plant: Perennial from strong taproot, 2-4 dm, glabrous; sap milky; stems 1-few Leaves: cauline or some basal, alternate, 2-8 cm, lobed INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads ligulate, in open cyme; peduncles 4-8 mm; involucre 12-16 mm; inner phyllaries 7-10; outer phyllaries erect to reflexed, << inner; receptacle naked Flowers: Flowers 10-14; ligules 11-15 mm, whitish, readily withering Fruit: achenes, 3-4 mm; pappus bristles plumose above, minutely barbed at base, brownish or pale yellowish Misc: Deserts; 680-2000 m.; May-Jun