Plants 10-50(-80) cm. Leaves: basal and proximal often present at, sometimes withered by, flowering; basal blades pinnatifid; proximal blades entire or pinnately toothed or lobed to pinnatifid. Ray corollas 4.5-14 × 2-9 mm. Disc florets 100-250+; corollas purple distally, 1.6-2.5 mm. Cypselae 0.7-1 mm; pappi of usually 6 scales 1-1.5 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering (Mar-)Apr-Jul(-Nov). Roadsides and fields; 200-1500 m; Okla., Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila).