Leaf blades mostly 8-20 cm × 5-20 (-25) mm. Phyllaries: bases ± rounded, apices acuminate or attenuate to linear or filiform. Ray laminae 15-50 mm. Cypselae 7-9 mm; pappi 0.01-0.5 mm. 2n = 38 (subspp. unknown).

The subspecies of Scabrethia scabra evidently have evolved along with the dissection of the Colorado Plateau.