It is native to the western United States from Idaho to southeastern California, where it grows in deserts and other dry, sandy, gravelly habitat.

It is a small annual herb growing at ground level with stems measuring 1 to 18 centimeters in length.

It is woolly or felt-like in texture with a coating of white hairs.

The inflorescence bears oval flower heads no more than half a centimeter in diameter.

The head generally has no phyllaries, or has small ones that fall away early.