[5] It is native the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in the deserts and plateaus.

It is a bristly annual herb growing erect up to 45 cm tall.

The oval or oblong leaves are 1–3 cm long and divided into lobes or teeth tipped with bristles.

The inflorescence bears one or more flower heads lined with pointed, roughly hairy phyllaries.

The fruit is a woolly achene 2 to 3 millimeters long tipped with a pappus.