Shrubs, 40-130 cm. Stems branched from bases, densely white-tomentose. Leaves alternate; petioles 0-2 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate, 10-30 × 5-20 mm, bases obtuse to truncate, margins entire or serrulate, apices acute, faces densely white-tomentose, often gland-dotted. Heads borne singly. Peduncles 30-60 mm, canescent. Involucres campanulate, 15-20 mm. Phyllaries 38-44 in 6-8 series, greenish to purple, 6-9-striate, unequal, margins narrowly scarious-ciliate (faces white tomentose and gland-dotted, apices obtuse to acuminate); outer ovate, inner lanceolate. Florets 45-60; corollas pale yellow or cream, often purple-tinged, 8.5-14 mm. Cypselae 8.5-10 mm, sericeous, gland-dotted; pappi of 42-44 white, barbellate bristles. 2n = 18. Flowering May-Oct. Sandy and gravelly washes, flats; 300-1600 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.

Plant: Shrub 4-10 dm, ± spheric; stems many, simple or branched, white-tomentose Leaves: alternate, sessile or short-petioled, 1-3 cm, ovate, entire to minutely serrate, tomentose INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads ± 24 mm, solitary; involucre bell-shaped, tomentose; phyllaries ± 40, overlapping, ± gray (greenish to purple beneath hairs), outer oblong-ovate, inner linear-lanceolate, 5-9-veined, hidden by dense hairs, tips erect Flowers: ± 60; corollas cylindric, ± white or tinged red; anther bases rounded or slightly cordate, tips ovate; style branches long, club-shaped, tips rounded Fruit: ± 1 cm, 10-ribbed, generally cylindric, hairy; pappus generally of many, generally scabrous bristles Misc: Sandy washes, flats; < 1700 m.; Apr-Jun, Oct