Erect branched, 10-20 (-25) cm tall, annual herbs, covered with white soft tomentum. Leaves linear, falcate, with acute apex, entire, (0.5-) 1-3 x 0.1-0.3 (-0.4) cm, covered with white dense tomentum, more on the lower surface than the upper one. Capitula in terminal or rarely axillary clusters, substended by slender white woolly leaves, rarely solitary, peduncle 2-3 mm, white tomentose; phyllaries 2-3-seriate, linear-oblong, obtuse-subacute, scarious, brown, shining with strong green central vein, outer densely white lanate at the base, shorter than the inner, c. 3 x 0.5 mm. Outer florets 2-more seriate, many, filiform, 3-4 toothed, disc florets 4-5, tubular, corolla c. 2 mm long, 5-lobed. Cypselas brownish, quadrangular, c. 0.5 mm long, sparingly papillose, pappus setae white, not coherent.

Fl.Per.: July-September.

Syntypes: Kashmir, 5-7000 ft, T. Thomson (K!), Stewart & Brandis (K).

Grows between 2500-3900 m along rocky stream beds, plains and cultivated fields; Distribution: India, Kashmir, Pakistan and China.

A very distinct species, easily recognized by its linear leaves, capitula arranged in globose clusters and brownish shining linear phyllaries which overtop the heads.