Clavigera brachyphylla A. Gray, Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. 4: 63. 1849

Perennials, 30–100 cm (caudices woody). Stems branched, pubescent. Leaves mostly alternate (sometimes subopposite); petioles 0–3 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, lanceolate or lance-ovate, 10–50 × 4–20 mm, bases acute to obtuse, margins serrate or entire, apices acute, faces sparsely to densely pubescent, often gland-dotted or stipitate-glandular. Heads usually in open, racemiform or paniculiform arrays, rarely borne singly. Peduncles 4–20 mm, pubescent. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 8–11 mm. Phyllaries 15–20 in 4–5 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 5–9-striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious (often ciliate, apices acute to acuminate or subaristate); outer lance-ovate (often puberulent), inner narrowly lanceolate (glabrous). Florets 9–12; corollas pale yellow-green, often purple-tinged, 4.5–6 mm. Cypselae 2.5–5.3 mm, mostly velutinous, sometimes pubescent; pappi of 27–32 white, usually plumose, rarely barbellate, bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul–Oct. Limestone cliffs, rhyolitic rock, rocky ridges, canyon walls, hillsides; 1400–2400 m; Ariz., Colo., Kans., N.Mex., Tex.