Annuals, 8-40 cm, eglandular or minutely glandular; taprooted. Leaves not densely overlapping, proximal and mid cauline blades oblanceolate to oblong-spatulate, 7-35 × (1-)2-10 mm, herbaceous, bases not clasping, flat, faces glabrous or sparsely strigose. Involucres narrowly to broadly conic, 3.8-4.5 × 1.5-2.5 mm. Ray florets 6-15; corollas violet to blue or lavender. Disc florets 8-22, bisexual or functionally staminate. Cypselae (ray) 1.5-2.2 mm, 10-nerved, faces strigose; pappi minute, thickened rings less than 0.1 mm, in 1 series. 2n = 16.

Flowering late Mar-Jul. Open habitats, sandy, clay, or rocky soils, commonly in calcareous alluvium, stream bottoms, limestone hills, usually with juniper and oak; 200-700 m; Tex.