Greyish woolly perennials, woody at base. Stem erect, 15-50 cm tall, much branched, rarely simple, densely tomentose on upper part, less on the lower part of the stem. Leaves linear lanceolate, horizontally spreading densely tomentose on the lower surface, less on the upper surface with folded margins, sessile, attenuate, upper leaves 15-50 x 1-2 mm, apiculate to mucronate, lower somewhat broader. Capitula arranged in corymbs, compact mostly terminal, pedunculate, 3-4 x 2-7 mm, white or yellowish-white, hairy. Peduncle densely tomentose, 2-4 mm long; phyllaries 5-6 seriate, white or dull-white, lower portion, brownish or rarely reddish, outer oblong or lanceolate, shorter, middle and inner oblanceolate, obtuse-apiculate, not much broader, more or less equal in size. Bisexual florets 20-22 in bisexual (homagamous) capitula. Female florets 25-33 in predominantly female capitula, with 3-4 bisexual florets (functionally male). Corolla of female florets filiform, light brown, 2-3 mm long, that of bisexual florets, dark brown, tubular with glandular lobes, 1.8-2.8 mm long. Cypselas of female florets 0.5-1 mm long, densely covered with papillae, of bisexual florets ± 0.5 mm, papillose, oblong, pappus setae bristly, 2-3.5 mm long, white.

Fl.Per.: July-September.

Type: Afghanistan: In fissuris rupium gneiss, faucium Nedschrab inter Gulbahar at sarobis, 3100-3240 m, Gilli 2984 (W).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir.

Closely relted to A. virgata in having similar habit, leaves and phyllaries but differs by having horizontally spreading leaves.