Plants 30-40+ cm. Heads 35-100+. Phyllaries: outer 5, basally connate ²/3-³/4 their lengths, 4-4.5 mm, apices obtuse to acuminate to acute; inner 5, 2.5-3 mm, apices rounded to obtuse to weakly acute or mucronate. Ray florets 4-5; corollas 3.4-4.2 × 1.7-2.2 mm. Disc florets 8-15. Cypselae 1.7-2.3 mm, hairs moderately wavy; pappi usually of 2-4 scales 1.2-2 mm, sometimes 0 on disc florets.

Flowering Jul-Sep. Open woodlands; of conservation concern; 1600-1900 m; N.Mex.

Variety neomexicana is known from the Animas and Peloncillo mountains.