Erect rhizomatous perennial to c. 50 cm high; vegetative stems freely branched, appressed-cottony. Leaves sessile, linear to oblanceolate, (15–)20–65 mm long, 1–4(–9) mm wide; apex acuminate, slightly thickened but not mucronate; base attenuate; upper surface smooth, glabrous or with sparse, appressed cottony hairs, sometimes with scattered glands; lower surface ±obscured by appressed cottony indumentum, with abundant sessile glands; margins recurved to revolute. Capitula solitary, subglobular to depressed-turbinate, (10–)13–20(–25) mm diam. at anthesis; involucre 5–8-seriate; bracts wrinkled; outer bracts cottony-ciliate at base, straw-coloured or yellow, often golden brown towards apex; intermediate bracts spathulate, 6–10.5 mm long, clawed, opaque, pale yellow to brownish-yellow. Florets numerous, some outer ones female. Cypselas 1.3–1.9 mm long, somewhat 4-angled, glabrous, brown with pale longitudinal ridges; pappus bristles 15–30, c. free, 3–4.5 mm long, white, those of female florets reduced or absent. Flowers (Nov.–) Feb.–Apr.(–Jun.).