Leaf blades 20-80 × 0.5-4 mm. Peduncles 3-8(-15) mm. Phyllaries drying dark gray-green. Ray laminae elliptic to ovate, 2.5-3.5 × 1.3-2 mm. Disc corollas 3-4 mm. Cypselae 1.5-2.5 mm; pappi 2.5-3.5 mm. 2n = 36.

Flowering sporadically year round following rains. Gypseous soils; 200-1000 m; Colo., Kans., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León).

Variety texana may be no longer present in Colorado and/or Kansas.