Shrubs, 50-150 cm. Stems with slender branches from bases, glabrous, developing smooth or roughened barks. Leaves cauline; petioles 5-25 mm; blades green, rhombic or narrowly ovate, 30-60 mm, apices acute, faces glabrous. Heads borne singly. Peduncles pubescent. Involucres 10-12 mm. Phyllaries lanceolate. Ray florets 15-25; corolla laminae 15-35 mm. Disc corollas brown-purple, 5-6 mm. Cypselae 5-7 mm; pappi 0. 2n = 36.
Flowering Feb-Oct. Coastal scrub; 0-600 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).