M. tanacetifolia is an annual or biennial herb growing one or more branching stems up to about 10–40 centimetres (4–15+1⁄2 inches) in height.

[1] Between May and September,[1] an inflorescence bears one or more flower heads lined with spreading or curling, pointed phyllaries.

The fruit is a flat achene about 1 cm long including the pappus.

[1] It is native to Alberta, the southwestern and central United States, and northern Mexico.

It grows in several types of habitat, including sandy open plains and deserts.