Plants subshrubs, spreading, densely branched, (0.5) 1–8 dm tall, 2–8 dm across; leaf blades linear-lanceolate to elliptic or spatulate, 0.4–1.2 (1.5) cm long, 0.2–0.8 cm wide, thinly tomentose abaxially; inflorescences 1–5 (8) cm long, 3–10 cm wide, the branches diffuse, with dichotomously arranged involucres, slender, sharply ridged and deeply grooved, minutely scabrellous, not spinose; involucres campanulate, 0.7–1.5 (2) mm long and wide; flowers 1.5–2.5 mm long, the perianth yellowish-white, the tepals glabrous.

Flowering Apr-Oct. Limestone cliffs and outcrops, saltbush, blackbrush, sagebrush, and mountain mahogany communities, scrub oak and pinyon-juniper woodlands; 700–2700 m; southeastern Inyo and northeastern San Bernardino cos., California, in Clark and southern Lincoln, Esmeralda and Nye cos., Nevada, in Washington Co., Utah, and in northern Mohave Co. and northwestern Coconino Co., Arizona.