Erect perennial, usually 40–100 cm high; stems few, unbranched, erect, densely white-woolly at least below. Basal leaves few, linear to linear-lanceolate; cauline leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, mostly 10–30 cm long, 4–12 mm wide, acute, gland-tipped, both surfaces appressed white- to grey-tomentose. Compound heads globose, 8–35 mm diam., solitary; common involucre absent; capitula 70–200; capitular bract lanceolate, 4–5 mm long, herbaceous, brown, with narrow scarious margins and a golden scarious tip, woolly throughout; involucral bracts 5–7, oblanceolate, scarious, apices yellow. Florets yellow. Cypselas 1.5–3 mm long; pappus bristles 9–16, plumose, 2.5–5 mm long. Flowers mostly spring and summer.