Inula gnaphalodes Ventenat, Descr. Pl. Nouv. t. 75. 1802; Strabonia gnaphalodes (Ventenat) Candolle.

Herbs, perennial. Stems very densely branched; entire plant, especially at base, covered with rather dense and long white and thin lanate tomentum, less dense toward apex. Leaves sessile, except very lower ones tapered into short petiole; blade oblong, oblong-spatulate, or at base rounded or slightly cordate, 5-30(-40) × 1-10 mm, both surfaces covered with somewhat less dense pubescence of thin tomentum and glands, midrib impressed adaxially, but prominent abaxially and lateral veins less distinct, base semiamplexicaul, margin distinctly crisped-undulate, apex obtuse. Capitula small, numerous, terminal on slightly thickened ends of terminal and axillary sprigs. Involucres 5-8(-10) mm in diam.; phyllaries loosely arranged in 2(or 3) rows, 2-4 × 0.5-0.7 mm, outer ones slightly shorter and wider than inner ones, oblong-lanceolate, pubescent outside, with ± dense tomentum and sessile glands, apex acute, inner less densely pubescent, margin somewhat membranous and slightly dentate-fimbriate. Ray florets small, slightly longer than involucre; corolla 4-5 mm, sparsely glandular outside; lamina ca. 1 mm wide, suboval. Disk florets tubular; corolla 3-4.5 mm, with prominent anther tips, stigma branches sparsely glandular outside. Achenes 2-2.5 × ca. 0.5 mm, slightly compressed, not densely patent, or appressed silky-pilose above, mostly coroniform, granulose-glandular. Inner row of pappus of 15-25 pinnate scabrid hairs, 4-5 mm; outer row of pappus coroniform, ca. 0.5 mm. Fl. May-Sep. 2n = 14.

Stony places, dried riverbeds. W Xizang [Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan; SW Asia (Iran, Iraq)].