Gnaphalium busua Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 173. 1825; Anaphalis araneosa Candolle; A. semidecurrens (Wallich ex Candolle) Candolle; G. semidecurrens Wallich ex Candolle.

Herbs, ?biennial, with thickish taproots or usually adventitious roots at base of stems. Stems erect, (2-)5-6(-13) cm, with ascending or expanding branches, lower parts glabrous or later brownish glandular hairy, upper parts arachnoid tomentose; internode 0.5-2.5 cm. Lower cauline leaves often caducous and lost by anthesis; middle leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 3-10 × 0.4-1 cm, base almost equilateral, decurrent on stems forming a cuneate attenuate long wing, margin flat or somewhat undulate, apex apiculate; upper leaves smaller, linear or subulate; all leaves thin, gray-green with yellow spot and squarrose hairy abaxially, green and squarrose hairy adaxially, arachnoid tomentose along veins on both surfaces and/or margin arachnoid cottony tomentose abaxially, midvein exserted abaxially, lateral veins somewhat conspicuous. Capitula numerous, compound corymbiform, terminal on branches; peduncle ca. 4 mm. Involucre broadly campanulate, 4-5 × 5-7 mm; phyllaries 4- or 5-seriate, white, somewhat brownish abaxially; outer phyllaries elliptic, ca. 4 mm; middle ones oval, ca. 4.5 × 1.8-2 mm, 1.3-1.5 mm in female florets, apex arcuate; innermost ones spatulate, ca. 3.5 mm, with a claw ca. 1/3 of full length. Receptacle alveolate. Predominantly female capitula with many florets, with 4-10 or more central male florets and many rows of marginal female florets; predominantly male capitula with many florets, with few rows of marginal female florets and many rows of central male florets. Corolla ca. 2.5 mm, almost as long as pappus; male florets pappus incrassate at tip of apex, serrulate. Achene elliptic, only 0.4-0.8 mm, glandular. Fl. Sep-Oct, fr. Oct. 2n = 42.

Low hill valleys, slopes, woodlands, grasslands; 1500-2800 m. SW Sichuan (Dechang, Miyi), S Xizang (Zhufeng), NW and W Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, Nepal].