Shrubs, 80-200 cm. Stems intricately branched, densely puberulent, often gland-dotted. Leaves opposite or alternate; petioles 1-2.5 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate, 3-13 × 4-14 mm, bases obtuse to truncate, margins crenate-serrate, apices obtuse, faces gland-dotted and tomentulose to densely puberulent. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 0-3 mm, gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric, 8-10 mm. Phyllaries 20-24 in 4-7 series, greenish or brownish, 3-4-striate, unequal, margins scarious (apices acute to apiculate); outer broadly ovate (granular-puberulent), inner lanceolate to lance-linear (glabrous or tomentulose, often gland-dotted). Florets 8-12; corollas white, 4.5-5 mm. Cypselae 2-3 mm, scabrous; pappi of 12-15 white, smooth or barbellulate bristles. Flowering Sep-Mar. Dry hillsides, outwash slopes, canyons; 200-1400 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America (to Nicaragua).

Plant: Shrub 8-15 dm; Stems intricately branched, puberulent to short-tomentose Leaves: opposite or alternate, simple, veiny, short-petioled, 0.5-1.2 cm, ovate, ± serrate, minutely tomentose INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads 8-10 mm, in small clusters on short lateral branchlets; involucre cylindric; phyllaries ± 21, overlapping, linear to oblong, 3-5-veined, ± green, purple, or yellow, ± minutely tomentose, tips erect Flowers: 8-12; corollas cylindric, ± white or tinged red; anther bases rounded or slightly cordate, tips ovate; style branches long, club-shaped, tips rounded Fruit: 2-3 mm, 10-ribbed, generally cylindric, hairy; pappus generally of many, generally scabrous bristles Misc: Rocky places, desert scrub; 200-1400 m.; Mar-May, Sep-Dec