Shrubs, 30-80(-120+) cm. Stems erect. Leaves mostly alternate; petioles 0-2 mm; blades (± white abaxially) elliptic, lance-linear, or rhombic, 10-40(-60) × 5-15(-40) mm, bases ± cuneate, margins irregularly toothed to ± laciniate, abaxial faces densely strigillose, adaxial faces tomentulose and pilosulous. Pistillate heads clustered, proximal to staminates; florets 1. Staminate heads: peduncles 0-0.5 mm; involucres saucer-shaped to shallowly cup-shaped, 4-8+ mm diam., tomentulose and/or pilose; florets 12-25+. Burs: bodies obconic to fusiform, 3-5+ mm, densely villous and stipitate-glandular, spines 12-20+, scattered or mostly distal, ± subulate, 3-4 mm, tips straight. 2n = 36.

Flowering Apr-May(-Jul). Sandy and gravelly washes; 700-1700 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah.