Annuals, 20-100 cm. Stems usually 1, erect, ± openly branched distally, loosely tomentose. Leaves ± loosely gray-tomentose; basal leaf blades linear-lanceolate, 3-10 cm, margins entire or with remote linear lobes, apices acute; cauline linear, usually not much smaller except among heads, usually entire. Heads radiant, in open, rounded or ± flat-topped cymiform arrays, pedunculate. Involucres campanulate, 12-16 mm. Phyllaries: bodies green, ovate (outer) to oblong (inner), tomentose or becoming glabrous, margins and erect appendages white to dark brown or black, scarious, fringed with slender teeth ± 1 mm. Florets 25-35; corollas blue (white to purple), those of sterile florets raylike, enlarged, 20-25 mm, those of fertile florets 10-15 mm. Cypselae stramineous or pale blue, 4-5 mm, finely hairy; pappi of many unequal stiff bristles, 2-4 mm.

Santa Catalina Mountains
Location: Top of Ski Valley at Aspen Trail sign
Elevation: 9040 ft.
GPS: 32.44131, -110.77917
8/19/15

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