Saints fleabane

Perennials, 5–40 cm; rhizomatous (fibrous-rooted) or perhaps obscurely taprooted (taproots/primary axes not evident in collections), forming systems of relatively slender rhizomes or rhizomelike caudex branches. Stems erect (bases greenish), sparsely hirsuto-villous (hairs usually retrorse), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; (bases greenish) proximal blades oblanceolate to oblanceolate-spatulate, 20–50 × 3–10 mm, gradually reduced distally, becoming linear (rarely slightly subclasping), margins entire, faces sparsely villous-hirsute, eglandular. Heads 1(–3). Involucres 6–9 × 12–17 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, densely villous to hirsuto-villous, eglandular. Ray florets 45–90; corollas blue to purple, 7–13 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 5–6.5 mm. Cypselae 1.5–2.2 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 18–25 bristles.

Flowering Mar–Jun. Usually in sandy sites, grassy openings in pine woods, burned areas on sandy mesas and ridges, commonly in sagebrush, chaparral, and coastal scrub, often with Adenostoma, Ceanothus; 50–400 m; Calif.

An unequivocal observation of the mode of perennation of this species has not been made.