Usually multistemmed perennial. Stems and leaves cottony, neither conspicuously viscid or glandular. Leaves of main stems linear to oblong, to 4 cm long, 4 mm wide, upper and lower surfaces remaining cottony, more densely below; margins recurved or flat; leaves on short axillary shoots usually smaller. Capitula usually numerous in a compact hemispherical or corymbose conflorescence. Female florets with 0 or 1 pappus bristle. Flowers Nov.–Feb.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also SA, NSW, Tas. Common in hilly country to alpine areas.
This subspecies shows less tendency to produce separate stems with large and small leaves than the others in Victoria, nonetheless, leaves of non-flowering plants may be shorter and more spreading than those on flowering stems. Apparent intermediates occur between this and subsp. semipapposumand subsp. asperum.
