Perennials or subshrubs, 10–60 cm (caudices woody). Stems branched, stipitate-glandular to glandular-pubescent. Leaves mostly alternate (sometimes subopposite); petioles 0; blades obscurely 3-nerved from bases, elliptic, lance-linear, or oblong, 9–40 × 1–15 mm, bases acute to attenuate, margins entire, apices acute or obtuse, faces pubescent to villous, often stipitate-glandular. Heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 2–50 mm, glandular-pubescent. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 10–20 mm. Phyllaries 25–35 in 4–6 series, greenish, 4–5-striate, unequal, margins scarious (sometimes ciliate, apices acute to acuminate); outer ovate to lanceolate (gland-dotted to glandular-puberulent), inner linear-lanceolate to linear (glabrous). Florets 25–50; corollas pale yellow-green or cream, often purple-tinged, 5–10 mm. Cypselae 3–7 mm, stipitate-glandular or hispidulous; pappi of 18–25 white, barbellate to subplumose bristles.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): w North America.