Actinella argentea A. Gray, Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. 4: 100. 1849; Hymenoxys argentea (A. Gray) K. F. Parker; Tetraneuris formosa Greene ex Wooton & Standley; T. leptoclada (A. Gray) Greene; T. trinervata Greene

Perennials, 6–25(–42+) cm. Caudices ± branched, branches notably thickened distally. Stems 1–8(–12), erect, leafy, ± branched distally. Leaves basal and cauline, entire, usually densely strigoso-canescent, ± gland-dotted; basal leaves tightly clustered, blades spatulate to oblanceolate; proximal cauline blades oblanceolate; mid blades oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 2.5–5 mm wide; distal blades linear-lanceolate to linear. Heads 1–10(–30) per plant (1–7 per stem), borne singly or in paniculiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 2–13.5 cm, usually densely hairy. Involucres (5–)7–10 × 8–15 mm. Outer phyllaries 8–11, 4–6.5 mm, margins 0–0.3 mm wide, usually scarious, abaxial faces densely hairy. Ray florets 8–14; corollas 11.8–17 mm. Disc florets 25–75(–100+); corollas yellow proximally, yellow or rarely purplish distally, 2.8–3.8 mm. Cypselae 2.4–3.1 mm; pappi of 5–6 obovate, aristate scales 2.1–3.5 mm. 2n = 30, 60.

Flowering (Apr–)May–Aug(–Sep). Roadsides, hillsides, open treeless areas, edges of woods; (1500–)2000–2400(–3000) m; Ariz., N.Mex.