Hairy stems from a branching root crown form dense mats that reach 12 inches in diameter and 3 1/2 inches high, and are covered with showy, yellow, miniature sunflowers. Note the flower heads are solitary on a stem that is barely taller than the clump of basal leaves. Grows in open, exposed areas near or above treeline.

FLOWER: July–August. 10-35 yellow rays, elliptic, 1/4–3/8 inch long (6-8 mm); disk flowers yellow.

LEAVES: Basal blades erect, linear to spatula-shaped, 3/8–2 inches long (1–5 cm), strongly veined. Alternate stem blades oblong to lance-shaped 9/16–1 3/8 inches long (15–34 mm); margins entire, lined with fine hairs; slightly smaller upward.

HABITAT: Gravelly soils, scree slopes, rock crevices; subalpine meadows, tundra; spruce-bristlecone pine forests near treeline, meadows, alpine tundra.

ELEVATION: 9,000–13,025 feet.

RANGE: CO, NM, WY.

SIMILAR SPECIES: The mat-forming stems covered with showy yellow flowers and the alpine habitat distinguish this species.

NM COUNTIES: Mountains of northern NM in high-elevation, alpine habitats: Colfax, Mora, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Taos.