Shrubs, 30-70 cm. Stems much branched, pubescent, gland-dotted. Leaves alternate; petioles 0-3 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate to suborbiculate, 3-20 × 1-15 mm, bases acute to obtuse or rounded, margins entire, coarsely dentate or serrate, apices rounded to acute, faces glandular-villous or hispidulous. Heads in loose, paniculiform arrays (often clustered at ends of branches). Peduncles (bracteate) 2-10 mm, viscid to glandular-villous. Involucres cylindric to narrowly campanulate, 7-12 mm. Phyllaries 30-48 in 5-8 series, greenish, often purple-tinged, 3-5-striate, (recurved or spreading) unequal, margins scarious (apices acute to acuminate); outer obovate to suborbiculate (glandular-pubescent; mid sometimes 3-toothed with middle tooth elongated), inner linear-oblong (glabrous or sparsely gland-dotted). Florets 8-28(-34); corollas pale yellow, often purple-tinged, 5.5-7 mm. Cypselae 3.5-4.7 mm, glabrous or hirtellous; pappi of 18-24 white, barbellulate bristles.

Plant: Shrub 3-6 dm; stems erect, branched from base, glandular-hairy Leaves: green, short-petioled, simple, veiny; blade 0.7-2 cm, ovate to round, entire to serrate-lobed, glandular INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads 10-12 mm, 1-3 per panicle on short branches; involucre cylindric to narrowly bell-shaped; phyllaries ± 45, overlapping, outer obovate, inner linear-oblong, 3-5-veined, greenish, glandular, tips darker, recurved or spreading Flowers: ± 22; corollas cylindric, ± white or tinged red; anther bases rounded or slightly cordate, tips ovate; style branches long, club-shaped, tips rounded Fruit: achenes, 4-4.5 mm, 10-ribbed, generally cylindric, hairy; pappus generally of many, generally scabrous bristles Misc: Among rocks; 1000-2700 m.; Sep-Oct