It is endemic to California, where it is known only from coastal San Luis Obispo County.

This is an annual herb growing a glandular but unscented stem to a maximum height near half a meter.

The fleshy leaves are linear to lance-shaped, with the lower ones often having lobes and reaching near 7 centimeters in maximum length.

The flower head has an urn-shaped base of rough, hairy phyllaries.

The face has a fringe of yellow ray florets with white tips and a center of yellow disc florets with purple anthers.