Plants 0.4-2 × 0.2-8 dm. Stems prostrate to decumbent. Leaf blades usually spatulate, some-times linear, 2-8 × 0.3-1.5 cm. Inflorescences with thick, dark red branches. Peduncles usually absent. Involucral bracts dark red, 1.5-3.5 × 1-2 mm, white-tomentose. Flowers (5-)12-30 per involucre, usually exposed in tomentum; perianth 1-1.5 mm; outer tepals broadly obovate to ovate.

Flowering Mar-Aug. Coastal sandy beaches, grassland communities; 0-100 m; Calif.; Mexico (Baja California).

Variety denudata occurs from Los Angeles County southward into Baja California.