Subshrubs, 1.5-2 × 4-6 dm. Stems: caudex absent; aerial flowering stems 0.4-0.8 dm, sparsely white-floccose or glabrous. Leaves: blade narrowly elliptic, 0.7-1.5 × (0.07-)0.1-0.3 cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, subglabrous or glabrous adaxially, margins usually revolute. Inflorescences 1-3 cm; branches sparsely floccose or glabrous. Involucres 3-4 mm, glabrous or thinly floccose near base of teeth. Flowers 2-2.5 mm; perianth cream. Achenes 2-2.5 mm.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Clayey outcrops, montane conifer woodlands; 2000-2100 m; Calif.

Variety lacus-ursi is known only from Bear Valley in the San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County, where it is restricted to a few hundred plants in a single area subject to development.