[1] It is characterized by an overall white appearance due to wooly hairs that cover the stems and leaves.

The flowers have a calyx 4.5 to 6 mm large, with 5 lobes that are shaped triangular, and tipped with spines.

[2][3] This species was described in 1908 by Marcus E. Jones based on a specimen collected in Inyo County, California.

[3] The specific epithet, "funerea", relates to where the plant was first found, in the Funeral Mountains along the California-Nevada border.

This species is found in association with Creosote bush scrub (Larrea and Ambrosia), and is often found with Atriplex hymenelytra, Bahiopsis reticulata, Encelia farinosa or Encelia actoni, and Eucnide urens.