Perennials or subshrubs, 30-60(-100) cm.
Stems erect, much branched.
Leaves cauline; mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate); ± sessile [petiolate]; blades 1-nerved (or nerves parallel, mostly linear to filiform [lanceolate] (distal usually filiform to scalelike, canescent, often with axillary, ± 4-ranked, canescent, fascicles of scale-leaves), margins entire, faces glabrous or puberulent, usually gland-dotted.
Heads discoid, in narrow, racemiform [corymbiform to paniculiform] arrays.
Involucres ± obconic, 4-5 mm diam.
Phyllaries persistent, 20-25 in 4-8 series, not notably nerved, lance-ovate to oblong, unequal (herbaceous to scarious, becoming indurate).
Receptacles flat, epaleate.
Florets 8-14; corollas whitish, throats narrowly cylindric (lengths 6-8 times diams.); styles: bases not enlarged, glabrous, branches narrowly clavate (distally dilated, not notably papillose).
Cypselae narrowly prismatic, (9-)10-ribbed, scabrellous on ribs;
pappi persistent, of 20-100 barbellate (at least distally) bristles in 1-3 series.
Asanthus has been included within
Steviopsis (see discussion under 404.
Brickelliastrum).