Plants 10–30(–40) cm. Leaves: proximal blades 2–6 cm, margins entire or ± undulate, faces densely lanate to woolly; cauline leaves (0 or 1–2 proximal to mid stems) narrowly lanceolate. Heads 1(–2). Involucres obconic, 10–12 mm diam. Phyllaries 8–11 mm, outer narrowly obovate to oblong-lanceolate, apices acuminate. Ray florets 12–21; laminae usually yellow, sometimes red-tinged, 8–10 mm. Disc corollas yellow. Cypselae 5–7 mm; pappus scales subequal, 1–2 mm. 2n = 38.

Flowering late spring–summer. Rocky slopes, talus, and flats, alpine or coniferous forest, on various substrates; 2000–3000 m; Calif.

Subspecies vestita grows in and near the Sierra Nevada.