Rhizomatous perennial. Stems ascending to erect, simple or branched, 10–40 cm, puberulent. Leaves alternate; blades oblanceolate, 3–15 cm long, white-tomentose beneath, thinly strigose above, ca. twice pinnately divided and lobed; ultimate segments deltoid. Female heads 2-flowered. Male heads saucer-shaped with black veins, 3–6 mm wide with 25 to 40 florets, spreading on peduncles ca. 1 mm long. Bur 4–6 mm long, 2-beaked with erect spines (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).