Subshrubs, 30-35 cm tall, with vertical woody rootstock, branching from lower parts, branches slender, erect, densely arachnoid pubescent or glabrescent. Lower and middle stem leaves: petiole 5-8 mm; leaf blade elliptic or oblong-ovate, 1.5-2 × 1-1.5 cm, stiff, arachnoid pubescent or ± glabrescent, 1- or 2-pinnatisect; segments 2 or 3 pairs; lobes or lobules 1-5 × 0.5-1.5(-2) mm. Uppermost leaves and leaflike bracts linear, entire. Synflorescence a ± broad conical to ovoid panicle. Capitula ± dense or spreading along branches, sessile or shortly pedunculate. Involucre oblong-obovoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, 2-3 mm in diam., base ± cuneate; phyllaries recurved, arachnoid pubescent, later glabrescent. Florets 4-6; corolla purple-red. Achenes ovoid or obovoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.

Slopes, Gobi Desert, dry valleys, rocky hills, roadsides; low elevations to 1200 m. N Xinjiang [Kazakhstan].