Artemisia strongylocephala Pampanini var. sinensis Pampanini, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 34: 177. 1927; A. strongylocephala f. virgata Pampanini.

Herbs, perennial, (40-)70-130(-150) cm tall, yellowish puberulent, sometimes glabrescent. Leaves ± sessile. Lowermost leaves oblong or ovate-oblong, 8-11 × 6-7 cm, 2-pinnatisect; segments 4 or 5 pairs, elliptic, 4-4.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm; lobules lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, (8-)10-15 × (3-)3.5-4 mm, abaxially densely arachnoid pubescent, adaxially sparsely pubescent, both surfaces glabrescent, rachis narrowly winged. Middle and upper stem leaves oblong, 6-11 × 4-8 cm, 1- or 2-pinnatipartite to subpinnatisect, segments 4 or 5 pairs. Leaflike bracts pinnatipartite or entire. Synflorescence a ± narrow panicle, to 18 cm; branches to 4 cm, ascending, capitula crowded toward tips. Capitula nodding. Involucre ovoid-campanulate, 3.5-4 mm in diam.; phyllaries yellowish puberulent. Marginal female florets 10-15. Disk florets 15-25(-30), bisexual. Achenes oblong or obovoid-oblong. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.

● Alpine or subalpine steppes, shrublands, forest margins, roadsides, often in dry stony situations; 2600-3900 m. SW Qinghai, W Sichuan, E Xizang, NW Yunnan.