Stems 30-50(-80) cm, mostly simple, sparsely tomentose. Leaves ± white; blades broadly obovate to oblong, 4-10 × 1.5-4 cm, relatively deeply lobed (lobes, lanceolate, ¹/3+ blade lengths, acute), faces tomentose (usually less densely adaxially). Heads in racemiform arrays 4-7 × 2-4 cm. Involucres (broadly campanulate), 4-5 × 4-8 mm. Florets: pistillate 8-10; bisexual 20-30; corollas 1.5-2 mm.

Flowering mid-late summer. Mountains, usually in loamy soils; 1800-3000 m; Alta., B.C.; Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Subspecies candicans is broadly circumscribed in this treatment. Variants within the complex, especially var. latiloba, may merit segregation.