Shrubs, 80–200 cm. Stems intricately branched, densely puberulent, often gland-dotted. Leaves opposite or alternate; petioles 1–2.5 mm; blades 3-nerved from bases, ovate, 3–13 × 4–14 mm, bases obtuse to truncate, margins crenate-serrate, apices obtuse, faces gland-dotted and tomentulose to densely puberulent. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 0–3 mm, gland-dotted. Involucres cylindric, 8–10 mm. Phyllaries 20–24 in 4–7 series, greenish or brownish, 3–4-striate, unequal, margins scarious (apices acute to apiculate); outer broadly ovate (granular-puberulent), inner lanceolate to lance-linear (glabrous or tomentulose, often gland-dotted). Florets 8–12; corollas white, 4.5–5 mm. Cypselae 2–3 mm, scabrous; pappi of 12–15 white, smooth or barbellulate bristles.

Flowering Sep–Mar. Dry hillsides, outwash slopes, canyons; 200–1400 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America (to Nicaragua).