Perennials, 3–12(–25+) cm. Stems decumbent to erect; internodes 5–10(–20+) mm, pilose to strigose (surfaces seldom hidden by hairs). Leaves basal and cauline, blades narrowly oblanceolate to linear, 6–20(–35) × 1–2(–3.5) mm, not fleshy, faces piloso-strigose to strigose. Heads at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves). Involucres ± campanulate to hemispheric, (5–)7–13 mm diam. Phyllaries 22–40+ in 4–5 series, the longer ± lance-ovate to lanceolate, 5–8 mm (l/w = 2.5–5), apices acute, abaxial faces strigose. Ray florets 10–25+; corollas white or pinkish adaxially, laminae 5–10 mm, usually glabrous, sometimes glandular-puberulent abaxially. Disc florets (20–)40–80; corollas 2–3.5+ mm. Cypselae 2–3+ mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 12–20(–30) lanceolate to subulate scales 0.2–0.5(–1.5) mm; on disc cypselae 15–25+ subulate to setiform scales 2.5–3+ mm.

Flowering Jun–Aug. Sandy or rocky soils, desert scrub, pinyon/juniper woodlands; of conservation concern; 1200–2400 m; Colo., N.Mex.

Upon naming Townsendia fendleri, Gray stated that it "most resembles" T. fremontii Torrey & A. Gray (i.e., T. incana). I feel that the affinity of T. fendleri may be closer to T. strigosa than to T. incana.