Perennials or subshrubs, 30-60(-100) cm. Stems erect, much branched. Leaves cauline; mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate); ± sessile [petiolate]; blades 1-nerved (or nerves parallel, mostly linear to filiform [lanceolate] (distal usually filiform to scalelike, canescent, often with axillary, ± 4-ranked, canescent, fascicles of scale-leaves), margins entire, faces glabrous or puberulent, usually gland-dotted. Heads discoid, in narrow, racemiform [corymbiform to paniculiform] arrays. Involucres ± obconic, 4-5 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 20-25 in 4-8 series, not notably nerved, lance-ovate to oblong, unequal (herbaceous to scarious, becoming indurate). Receptacles flat, epaleate. Florets 8-14; corollas whitish, throats narrowly cylindric (lengths 6-8 times diams.); styles: bases not enlarged, glabrous, branches narrowly clavate (distally dilated, not notably papillose). Cypselae narrowly prismatic, (9-)10-ribbed, scabrellous on ribs; pappi persistent, of 20-100 barbellate (at least distally) bristles in 1-3 series.

Asanthus has been included within Steviopsis (see discussion under 404. Brickelliastrum).