Perennials 5–25(–60) cm; roots or rhizomes vertical, deep. Stems 1–5, erect or ascending, green, simple or branched from bases, obscurely striate (glabrous, puberulent or scabrous). Leaves (basal not forming rosettes, cauline present at flowering); basal blades linear to subulate. 5–150 × 1–6 mm, margins entire; cauline similar, sometimes reduced to scales distally. Heads (1–30, showy) borne singly or in loose, corymbiform arrays. Involucres cylindric, 15–25 × 6–8 mm, apices narrowed or spreading. Calyculi of ca. 8, deltate to ovate bractlets 2–5 mm, margins ciliate (faces tomentulose). Phyllaries 5–12, linear, 15–24 mm, margins scarious, apices appendaged (faces glabrous or scabrous). Florets 5–12; corollas 20–40 mm, lavender, pink, purple, rose, or white, ligules 5–10 mm wide. Cypselae (subcylindric, obscurely 4–5-angled) 10–18 mm (faces smooth or rugose, sometimes sulcate); pappi 10–13 mm. 2n = 18.
Open dry places in valleys and foothills. Open sites, alluvial, sandy, or gravelly soils, juniper-sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1200-2800 metres.
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