Shrubs, 10–100 cm. Stems 1–5+, erect or spreading, spiny, evenly pannose. Leaves: primaries forming recurved spines, 5–25 mm; secondaries linear-filiform to spatulate, 3–25 (× 1–2) mm, glabrous or glabrescent. Heads 1–2 (in axils of spines). Peduncles 5–30 mm. Involucres hemispheric, 8–12 mm. Phyllaries 4–6, oblong to ovate. Florets 5–8; corollas pale to bright yellow, 6–10 mm. Cypselae 6–8 mm, copiously pilose (hairs 9–12 mm); pappi of ca. 25, subulate scales 6–9 mm. 2n = 60.

Flowering spring. Usually sandy soils of alkali sinks, shadscale scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands; 800–2400 m; Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg, Utah., Wyo.