Annuals [biennials or perennials], (1–)3–30 cm; usually taprooted, sometimes fibrous-rooted. Stems usually 1, erect (often with decumbent-ascending branches from bases; ± woolly-tomentose, not glandular). Leaves mostly cauline; alternate; ± sessile; blades oblanceolate to spatulate or linear, bases ± cuneate, margins entire, faces concolor, gray and tomentose. Heads disciform, usually in ± capitate clusters (in axils of leaves or bracts), sometimes in spiciform glomerules. Involucres narrowly to broadly campanulate, 2.5–4 mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series, usually white or tawny to brown (opaque or hyaline, often shiny; stereomes usually glandular distally), ± equal to unequal, chartaceous toward tips (inner phyllaries narrowly oblong, usually white-tipped and protruding distal to outer). Receptacles flat, smooth, epaleate. Peripheral (pistillate) florets 40–80 (more numerous than bisexual); corollas purplish or whitish. Inner (bisexual) florets 4–7; corollas purplish or whitish. Cypselae oblong, faces usually glabrous, sometimes minutely papillate (hairs ± papilliform, not myxogenic); pappi readily falling, of 8–12 distinct, barbellate bristles in 1 series. x = 7.