Subshrubs, 24-40 cm tall, gray pubescent. Lower stem leaves: petiole 15-40 mm; leaf blade ovate or obovate, 1.5-5 × 1.5-3.5 cm, densely incanous pubescent, 2-ternate; lobules linear or linear-oblanceolate, 10-15 × 1-1.5 mm, mucronulate apically. Middle stem leaves: petiole 5-15 mm; leaf blade ternately 3-lobed; lobes linear-lanceolate or linear, 10-15 × 2-4 mm. Upper leaves and leaflike bracts entire. Synflorescence a narrow or somewhat broad panicle. Involucre oblong-ovoid or ellipsoid-ovoid, 2.5-4 mm in diam.; phyllaries densely or sparsely pubescent. Florets 4-7. Achenes obovoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.

Rocky slopes, Gobi Desert, desert steppes; 800-1500 m. N Xinjiang [Kazakhstan].