Much branched short to medium plant. It is silvery-grey and woolly. Leaves alternate. Flowerheads without rays yellowish brown, borne in clusters. Flower bracts brownish.

dense grey-white woolly hairs on upperside of leaves; flowers in loose, leafy inflorescences; phyllaries pale brown with darker brown tips

A photograph of the whole plant in flower

On clay or sandy soils, often in short turf or bare areas such as paths. Can grow in surprisingly dry places.

July to September.

Annual.

Widespread and fairly common in Britain, except in northern Scotland.

Quite frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 199 of the 617 tetrads.