Biennials or short-lived perennials. Stems, branches, and peduncles usually hairy, puberulent, or canescent, often sparsely stipitate-glandular (glabrous or densely stipitate-glandular in var. glandulosa). Leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, mid 20-100 × (2-)6-20 mm, margins entire to irregularly serrate, faces puberulent or canescent, often sparsely short-stipitate-glandular (densely, stiffly long-stipitate-glandular in var. glandulosa); distal bases cordate to auriculate, clasping. Involucres broadly turbinate to hemispheric. Phyllaries in 5-12 series, spreading to reflexed, apices acute to long-acuminate, 1-6 mm, herbaceous, faces puberulent or canescent throughout (on both indurate bases and foliaceous apices), sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular (moderately to densely stipitate-glandular in var. glandulosa). Receptacles 3.5-7 mm diam. Ray florets pistillate, fertile; laminae white to purple, 10-20 × 0.8-1.5 mm. Disc corollas 5-8 mm. Cypselae glabrous or moderately appressed-hairy.

Plant: Biennial, perennial herb < 10 dm, generally canescent-puberulent and nonglandular; stems 1-several from base, generally branched above and ± bushy Leaves: simple, alternate, generally 3-10 cm, generally 5-25 mm wide, lanceolate to oblanceolate, irregularly dentate to minutely serrate or subentire; lower tapered; upper clasping INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads radiate; phyllaries generally in 5-12 series, tips short-triangular to elongate, acuminate, spreading to bent backward, puberulent Flowers: Ray flowers many; corollas blue-purple; ligules 1-2 cm; Disk flowers many; corollas 5.5-8 mm, yellow; style tips triangular to linear, acute Fruit: 2.5-3.5 mm, narrowly obovate, weakly curved and ± flattened with 5-7 ribs on each face, glabrous or ± silky; pappus 6-8 mm Misc: Chaparral, woodland, scrub; 800-2400 m. References: J.C. Hickman, ed. The Jepson Manual.W.D. McDougal. Seed plants of Northern Arizona. USDA website. (plants.usda.gov) ASU specimens.