Woody perennials, up to 30 cm high with dense cottony wool. Leaves 6-60 x 1-5 mm, linear oblong, to oblanceolate, attenuate at the base, often semiamplexicaul, entire, subentire, undulate or very remotely denticulate with flat or revolute margins, densely white tomentose below, ± subglarbous above. Peduncles densely to sparsely white tomentose bearing a single capitulum. Capitula 8-18 mm in diameter, multiflorous; phyllaries densely floccose to lanate at the back, rarely subglabrous, outer ones ovate to lanceolate 2-2.5 x 1-1.5 mm with membranous silvery white, ± transparent margins and with 2 purple streaks running from the apex to the base, obtuse to acuminate, middle phyllaries lanceolate to ± spathulate, 5-6 x 1-2 mm, long acuminate to obtuse, ± purplish in the centre and at the apex, inner ones 7-8 mm long, acuminate membranous silvery white with purplish or brownish tips. Bisexual florets 20-50, dull yellow, c. 8 mm long. Corolla tube sparsely hairy, lobes recurved. Stamens exserted. Anthers completely tailless. Cypselas c. 1 mm long; pappus setae 5-7, very remotely but dstinctly barbellate.

Fl.Per.: April-August.

Type: USSR: Turcomania, in montibus Balchanicis majoribus, prope Stationem viae ferreae Dshebel, 20.5.1939, N. Androssov s.n. (ASH†, Photo: LE!).

Grows between 600-1800 m in rock crevices; Distribution: USSR (Turkmenistan), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Arabia.