Subshrubs or herbs, much-branched and matted, not scapose, (1-)5-15 × 2-8 dm, glabrous, rarely floccose. Stems spreading to erect, with persistent leaf bases, up to 4 height of plant; caudex stems matted; aerial flowering stems erect to spreading, usually stout, solid or hollow, occasionally fistulose, (0.8-)2-6 dm, glabrous, rarely floccose.  Leaves basal or sheathing up stems 0.5-3 dm; petiole 5-20 cm, floccose; blade oblong to oblong-ovate, (1.5-)3-10 × (1-)2-6 cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, tomentose to floccose to subglabrous and greenish adaxially, margins plane, occasionally crisped. Inflorescences subcapitate to cymose, (5-)20-100 × 4-50 cm; branches usually dichotomous, glabrous, rarely floccose; bracts 3-8 or more, leaflike, oblong to oblong-ovate, and 5-20 × 5-10 mm proximally, scalelike, triangular, and 2-6 mm distally. Peduncles absent. Involucres 1-3 per cluster, turbinate-campanulate to campanulate, (4-)5-7 × 3-6 mm, floccose to subglabrous; teeth 5-8, erect, 0.3-0.6 mm. Flowers 2.5-3.5 mm; perianth white to pink, rose, or red, glabrous; tepals connate proximal 4, monomorphic, oblong-obovate; stamens exserted, 3-6 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes brown, 2.5-3 mm, glabrous.

In the flora area, Eriogonum grande is the insular phase of the E. nudum complex; var. testudinum Reveal is found on the mainland in Baja California, Mexico.