Herbs, perennial, or subshrubs, 30-50 cm tall, ± woody at base, densely silvery or hoary pubescent. Lower and middle stem leaves: petiole 5-10 mm; leaf blade obovate-elliptic or elliptic, 0.5-0.8 × 0.5-0.8 cm, 1- or 2-pinnatisect; segments 2 or 3 pairs, distal lobes 2-4-lobulate; lobules elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 2-4 × 0.5-1.5 mm, recurved or flat, apex obtuse. Uppermost leaves and leaflike bracts pinnatisect. Synflorescence a somewhat broad panicle. Capitula sessile or shortly pedunculate, nodding. Involucre subglobose or subovoid-campanulate, 4-7 mm in diam. Marginal female florets 5-10; corolla limb purple or yellow, white puberulent. Disk florets 20-40, bisexual. Achenes oblong or obovoid-oblong, with apical corona or not. Fl. and fr. Jul-Oct.

Steppes, dry areas, hills; ca. 2400 m or below. W Gansu, SW Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia].