Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; central Washington to California, east to Wyoming and Arizona.

Habitat: Dry, open areas and meadows, from the foothills to middle elevations in the mountains

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Annual

Conservation Status: Review Group 1 in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bees, flies

Freely branched, glandular annual up to 1 dm. tall.

Leaves firm and prickly, up to 2.5 cm. long, pinnatifid, the terminal segment distinctly longer than the lateral ones; bracts similar to the true leaves.

Inflorescence of dense, leafy-bracteate heads terminating the stem and branches; calyx 6-9.5 mm. long, with 5 unequal lobes, and with broad translucent intervals between the herbaceous segments; corolla yellow, about equal to the calyx, the 5 lobes short; filaments equal and equally inserted below the sinuses; style 3-parted; ovary superior.

Capsule 3-celled, each with 1 or 2 seeds.