Stems 30-80(-100) cm, widely branched, sparsely hairy or glabrous. Leaves strongly bicolor (white and green, or gray-green and green), narrowly lanceolate, 4-10 × 0.5-1 cm, lobed; faces ± tomentose (abaxial) or glabrescent. Heads in paniculiform or racemiform arrays 1-8 × 2-5 cm. Involucres (campanulate) 3-4 × 2-3 mm. Florets: pistillate (5-)8-10; bisexual (6-)10-20; corollas ca. 1.5 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering late summer-late fall. Mountain slopes, rocky soils; 500-1000 m; Ariz., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; Mexico.