Plants 25-35(-50) cm. Stems erect to ascending or decumbent, glabrous or sparsely tomentulose. Leaves: basal blades 50-180(-300) × 10-20(-30) mm, finely spinulose-serrate, faces glabrous or petioles sparsely tomentose, eglandular. Heads (1-)5-20(-50) in corymbiform or paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 0-6 cm. Involucres 7-10 × 12-18 mm. 2n = 12, 24, 36.

Flowering Jun-Sep. Alkaline meadows, hillsides, roadsides; 1300-2800 m; Alta., Sask.; Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Dak., Oreg., Tex., Utah, Wyo.