It is found in northern California, Idaho, Utah and eastern Oregon.

Heads are slightly curved downward and resemble diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.)

Seeds are pale brown and may disperse 60 feet when not spread by animals.

The bent bract often allows the head to catch a ride on passing animals and is considered the mechanism for long distant dispersal.

The taproot allows this weed to thrive in dry sites so it maybe more invasive than diffuse knapweed in ultra-dry rangeland.