Stems branching ± throughout, bases usually less than 5 mm diam. Leaves 10-70(-85) × 1.5-5 mm. Involucres 6-9 mm diam. 2n = 16.
Flowering Jun-Oct. Desert shrub, pinyon-juniper communities; 600-2700 m; Ariz., N.Mex, Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sonora).