Short-lived perennial, 10–20 cm high; stems branched at or near base, ascending, white-cottony. Leaves linear to narrow-oblanceolate, 2–25 mm long, 1–4 mm wide, reducing gradually toward capitulum, acute, mucronate, upper surface with scattered arachnoid and septate-papillose hairs, lower surface densely cottony, but with underlying septate hairs, margins undulate. Capitula campanulate to broadly hemispherical, c. 1–1.5 cm diam.; outer involucral bracts linear, acuminate, golden, laciniate toward apex, lower margins cottony-ciliate; inner bracts linear, herbaceous and cottony-ciliate for the greater part, tip scarious, golden, laciniate; florets yellow. Cypselas oblong-quadrangular, c. 1–1.5 mm long, glabrous; pappus white, bristles 16–24 (fewer in female florets), barbellate tending to plumose at tips, 4–5 mm long. Flowers Dec.–Apr.(–Jun.).
