Biennials or perennials, (10-)20-80(-100) cm (monocarpic; sometimes with sparingly branched, woody caudices). Stems 1-3(-15), usually purple-red-tinted proximally, sometimes purple-red-tinted throughout, branched distally, ± hairy. Leaves: blades simple or lobed (lobes 3-9), ± hairy, gland-dotted (basal leaf bases ± long-villous-woolly); mid leaves lobed (lobes 3-5, terminal lobes 1-2.5 mm wide). Heads (1-)7-45(-80) per plant, in paniculiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles (2-)3.5-8(-13) cm, ± hairy. Involucres subhemispheric to hemispheric, 8-10 × 10-17 mm. Phyllaries in 2 series, unequal; outer 8-15, basally connate ¹/3-¹/2 their lengths (moderately to strongly keeled), lanceolate, 4.5-8.9 mm, apices acuminate to acute; inner 14-22, obovate to oblanceolate, 4.1-6.8 mm, apices acuminate to mucronate. Ray florets 9-14; corollas yellow, 10.2-17(-21.5) × 4-7.5(-9.2) mm. Disc florets 30-150+; corollas 2.7-4.8 mm. Cypselae narrowly obpyramidal, 1.7-3.7 mm; pappi of 5-6(-8) obovate, aristate scales 1.3-3.3 mm. 2n = 30. Flowering May-Jun(-Sep). Roadsides, open areas, edges of juniper-pine forests; (1000-)1500-2500(-3500) m; Ariz., Calif., Idaho, Nev., Oreg., Utah. Some plants of Hymenoxys cooperi, mostly 10-40 cm with mostly 1-6 heads, have been called var. canescens.

Plant: Biennial or short-lived perennial herb 15-90 cm, lightly canescent with soft, white, jointed hairs, ± glabrous in age; stem generally branched above middle Leaves: basal and cauline, 4-9 cm, simple, alternate, divided into 1-2 mm wide linear lobes INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads radiate, in ± flat- topped cyme; peduncles > 10 cm; involucre generally 9-10 mm diam; outer phyllaries fused at base, 5-7 mm, < or = inner series Flowers: Ray flowers 8-14; ligules 10-13 mm; corolla yellow, fan-shaped, 3-5-lobed; Disk flowers: many; corolla 3.5-4.5 mm, yellow Fruit: ± 3 mm, obpyramidal, generally 5-angled, hairy; pappus scales, 1-2 mm, ovate, entire or short-awn-tipped Misc: Dry, rocky slopes; 1200-2000 m.; May-Jun, Sep-Oct