Shrubs, 3-6 × 6-12(-15) dm. Stems: caudex absent; aerial flowering stems 0.5-1.3(-1.5) dm, tannish- to reddish-brown-lanate to tomentose or rarely floccose. Leaves: blade elliptic to obovate, (0.8-)1-2(-2.5) × (0.4-)0.6-1 cm, densely whitish-brown-tomentose abaxially, floccose to subglabrous adaxially, margins not revolute. Inflorescences 1-4 cm; branches lanate to tomentose. Involucres 2-3 mm, floccose to subglabrous. Flowers 2-2.5(-3) mm; perianth white to reddish. Achenes 2.5-3 mm. Flowering Jul-Sep. Gravelly to rocky granitic slopes, chaparral communities, oak and montane conifer woodlands; (1500-)1800-2900 m; Calif. Variety corymbosoides is found infrequently at the eastern end of the San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County; Little Rock Canyon of the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County; and the Mt. Pinos area of southwestern Kern County.