Woody at the base from a branched caudex. Stems ascending or erect, usually simple, 12–80 cm, woody at the base. Herbage aromatic, tomentose; leaves gray above, whitish beneath. Leaves cauline, sessile to short-petiolate, linear-lanceolate, 2–10 cm long, entire. Inflorescence paniculate; heads erect to nodding; bracts linear. Involucre campanulate, 3–4 mm high; phyllaries green, tomentose; receptacle glabrous. Disk flowers 10 to 30, perfect and female, glandular; corolla 1–2.5 mm long; yellow or purple. Achenes glabrous, <1 mm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).