Perennials, 1-2(-4) cm (usually ± pulvinate).
Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1 mm, ± scabrellous to strigose.
Leaves basal and cauline, blades ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 7-15(-35+) × 1-2(-4+) mm, not fleshy, faces ± scabrellous to strigose.
Heads usually ± sessile, sometimes on scapiform peduncles 5-15+ mm.
Involucres ± campanulate, 8-14 mm diam.
Phyllaries 20-28 in 3-4+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, 4-8 mm (l/w = 2.5-5), sometimes glabrate, apices acute, abaxial faces usually sparsely strigillose.
Ray florets 13-21; corollas white adaxially, laminae 5-7+ mm, ± densely glandular-puberulent abaxially.
Disc florets 40-80+; corollas 4.5-5+ mm.
Cypselae 2-3(-4+) mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform or forked;
pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 20-24 subulate to setiform scales 3-4+ mm; on disc cypselae 20-24 subulate to setiform scales 4-6(-8) mm. Flowering Apr-Jun. Rocky slopes, limestone slopes with pinyons; 2100-3000 m; Ariz., Nev., Utah. The current circumscription of
Townsendia jonesii is, perhaps, too lumpy. Some lumps might be better treated as distinct species and/or included within the circum-scription of
T. scapigera.