Plants 2-18 cm (self-compatible); glandular, not strongly scented. Stems not purple-streaked. Leaf blades oblong or ovate, 3-45 mm, margins (basal leaves) lobed. Involucres ± campanulate, 4-8 × 3-7+ mm. Phyllaries 4-10, apices shorter than folded bases. Paleae in 1 series between ray and disc florets. Ray florets 4-10; laminae white, 1.5-3.5 mm. Disc florets 5-45; corollas 2-4 mm; anthers ± dark purple. Ray cypselae sparsely hairy. Disc pappi of 24-32 white to tawny or rufous, ± equal bristles or setiform scales 2.5-3.5 mm, each proximally plumose, not adaxially woolly. 2n = 16.

Flowering Apr-Jul. Coastal sand dunes; of conser-vation concern; 0-60 m; Calif.

Layia carnosa occurs on the Central Coast and North Coast and in the San Francisco Bay area.