Shrubs, 3-6 × 5-12(-15) dm. Stems: caudex absent; aerial flowering stems 0.5-1(-1.5) dm, tomentose when young, becoming floccose. Leaves: blade usually broadly elliptic, 0.6-1.8 × 0.3-0.8 cm, brown-tomentose abaxially, floccose to subglabrous adaxially, margins not revolute. Inflorescences 1-4 cm; branches tomentose when young, becoming floccose. Involucres 2-2.5 mm, subglabrous or glabrous. Flowers 1.5-2(-2.5) mm; perianth white to reddish. Achenes 1.8-2 mm.

Flowering Jul-Oct. Gravelly slopes, sagebrush communities, pinyon-juniper woodlands; 1900-2800 m; Calif.

Variety panamintense is a localized expression known only from the Inyo Mountains and the Panamint Range of Inyo County.