Perennials or subshrubs, 20–40+ cm. Stems erect. Leaves mostly alternate; petioles 0; blades mostly linear (some 1-pinnate, lobes linear), 12–20(–35+) × 1(–2+) mm, bases cuneate, margins entire, abaxial faces strigillose (whitish), adaxial faces scabrellous. Pistillate heads clustered, proximal to staminates; florets 1. Staminate heads: peduncles 0.5–1 mm; involucres cup-shaped (with black nerves), 4–6+ mm diam., strigillose; florets 12–20+. Burs: bodies pyriform to obconic, 2–4(–5) mm, strigillose, spines (4–)5–9(–13+), scattered or mostly distal, subulate, (0.8–)1–1.5 mm, tips usually uncinate.