Subshrubs, 30-45 cm tall, gray tomentose, later partly glabrescent. Lower stem leaves: petiole 15-25 mm; leaf blade elliptic or ovate-oblong, 3-4 × 2-3 cm, densely incanous tomentose, later sparsely tomentose or glabrescent, 2(or 3)-pinnatisect; segments 4 or 5 pairs; lobules linear or lanceolate, 2-3 × 1-1.5 mm. Middle stem leaves 1-or 2-pinnatisect; lobules narrowly linear, ca. 1 mm wide. Upper leaves and leaflike bracts pinnatisect or 3-lobed. Synflorescence a somewhat broad elongated panicle. Involucre ellipsoid or oblong, 2-3 mm in diam.; phyllaries pubescent. Florets 3-6. Achenes obovoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.