Plants 2-5(-8+) dm. Stems ± pannose. Leaves mostly cauline; blades linear, 5-8 cm × 2-4 mm, l/w = 17-25(-40), abaxially densely sericeo-tomentose, adaxially usually glabrate, sometimes sparsely arachno-tomentose. Heads in corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 5-35 mm. Involucres ± obconic to campanulate, 6-10 × 5-8 mm. Phyllaries 40-50+ in 5-6+ series, sericeo-tomentose, including margins, the outer lance-ovate, 1-2 mm, the inner lanceolate to lance-linear, 6-7(-9+) mm, tips acute. Florets 12-24+. Cypselae 3-4 mm; pappi stramineous to purplish, outer scales 20+, 0.6-1.1 mm, contrasting with 20+, 6-7+ mm inner bristles. 2n = 34.

Flowering Jun-Aug. Calcareous soils, rocky banks; 300 m; Ark., Tex.; Mexico (Coahuila).