Plants 5-8(-10) dm. Aerial flowering stems strongly fistulose, 2.5-3.5 dm, glabrous. Leaves sheathing; blade 1-6 × 1-2(-3) cm, densely tomentose abaxially, less so to floccose adaxially, margins strongly undulate-crisped. Inflorescences cymose, 25-50 × 15-25 cm; branches glabrous. Involucres 1 per node, 4-5 mm, glabrous. Flowers 2.5-3 mm; perianth pale yellowish white to yellow or white, glabrous. 2n = 80.

Flowering May-Oct. Clayey slopes, grassland communities, oak and conifer woodlands; 100-1100 m; Calif.

Variety indictum is found on the inner Coast Ranges of central California. For the most part, its range is east of that of var. auriculatum, occurring in Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Merced, eastern Monterey, San Benito, and eastern San Luis Obispo counties.