Plants 30–55 cm. Leaves: petioles 1–6 mm; blades ovate, lanceolate-ovate or elliptic to suborbiculate, 4–8(–12) × 3–9(–12) mm. Pappi callous crowns or of vestigial, hyaline scales. 2n = 34.

Flowering spring–fall. Crevices and rocky slopes in arid mountains; 1400–3000 m; Calif., Nev.

Variety megalocephala is relatively common, growing usually in volcanic, also granitic and limestone rock in arid mountains of western and south-central Nevada and adjacent California. The lack of rays and pappus bristles separates var. megalocephala from the similar Perityle stansburyi.