Plants ± greenish, mostly 3-9 cm. Leaves cauline, largest 6-12(-14) × 3-5(-6) mm; blades ± round, ± densely lanuginose. Heads: longest 3-3.7 mm. Pistillate paleae 2.5-3.7 mm. Cypselae mostly 1-1.7 mm.

Flowering and fruiting late Mar-early Jul. Sandy, grassy or wooded coastal bluffs, terraces, dunes; 0-300 m; Calif., Oreg.

Variety brevifolia occurs in a coastal band from the San Francisco Bay area to southwestern Oregon. It is of potential conservation concern in both states. See discussion under Hesperevax acaulis var. robustior.