Perennials (sometimes flowering first year; cespitose). Roots usually not fleshy or clustered. Stems decumbent, branched proximally, ± hairy. Leaves mostly basal; blades linear to oblong, 28-88 × 1.5-5.5(-15) mm, fleshy, margins entire or with 3-5+ teeth (ciliate), faces glabrous or ± hairy. Involucres campanulate to depressed-hemispheric, 9-14 mm. Phyllaries ± persistent, 9-16 in 2 series, elliptic to ovate. Ray florets 8-16; laminae elliptic to oblong, 6-18 mm. Anther appendages deltate to sublanceolate. Cypselae silver-gray, linear to narrowly clavate, to 4 mm, glabrous; pappi 0, or of 1-4 translucent, brown, subulate, aristate scales (sometimes variable within heads). 2n = 48.

Flowering year round (mostly May-Aug). Grasslands, dunes, woodlands, immediate coast; of conservation concern; 0-500 m; Calif.

Subspecies macrantha is morphologically similar to Lasthenia ornduffii; their ranges are allopatric. Plants of subsp. macrantha found in San Luis Obispo County may have fleshy roots approaching those of subsp. bakeri.