Townsendia spathulata Nutt.

Perennials, 1–2 cm (usually ± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1–1 mm, ± villous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± spatulate, 7–10(–20) × 1.5–2(–4) mm little, it at all, fleshy, faces ± villous or sericeous. Heads ± sessile. Involucres ± urceolate, 6–12(–16) mm diam. Phyllaries 16–24+ in 3–4 series, the longer lance-ovate to lanceolate, 6–8(–9) mm (l/w = 4–7), apices usually acute, sometimes attenuate, abaxial faces ± villous to strigillose. Ray florets 12–30+; corollas white to pinkish adaxially, laminae 3–12 mm, abaxially usually glandular-puberulent, sometimes glabrous. Disc florets 16–30+; corollas 4–5+ mm. Cypselae 2.5–4 mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform or forked; pappi readily falling, of 14–30 subulate to setiform scales 4.5–6+ mm (± connate basally).