Artemisia issykkulensis Poljakov, Bot. Mater. Gerb. Glavn. Bot. Sada R.S.F.S.R. 17: 415. 1955; A. fedtschenkoana Krascheninnikov var. issykkulensis (Poljakov) Poljakov.

Subshrubs, 20-40 cm tall, gray puberulent. Lowermost leaves: petiole 5-15 mm; leaf blade oblong-ovate or ovate, 10-25 × 4-6 mm, gray puberulent, 2-pinnatisect; segments 2-4 pairs; lobules narrowly linear, distal lobules 4 or 5, lateral lobules 1.5-3 × 0.3-0.6 mm, obtuse apically. Middle stem and upper leaves pinnatisect; leaflike bracts narrowly linear-lanceolate. Capitula ± dense along branches and in somewhat broad or narrow panicles. Involucre oblong-ovoid or ovoid, 1-1.5 mm in diam.; phyllaries puberulent. Florets 3-5. Achenes ovoid or obovoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Nov.

Rocky slopes, Gobi Desert, semidesert and desert steppes; low elevations to 1400 m. N Xinjiang [Kazakhstan].