Subshrubs. Rhizome stout, woody. Stems woody, numerous, 30-70 cm tall, usually branched, densely white tomentose. Leaves oblong, (7-)15-65 × 2-7 mm, both surfaces densely yellowish tomentose, base sheathed, apex acute. Capitula 7-20, heterogamous, in 1 or usually 2-5 corymbs, 3-8 mm in diam.; bracteal leaves 5-9, similar to cauline leaves but usually much larger, sparsely arranged, forming an irregular star of 2.5-7.5 cm in diam. or usually in compound stars. Involucre 3-4 mm, white lanate; phyllaries 3-seriate, inner ones oblong, apex light brown, obtuse, glabrous. Corolla 2.5-3 mm. Achenes ca. 1 mm, papillose. Pappus white, longer than corolla, serrulate. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov.