Shrubs, 50-150 cm. Stems 1-5+, erect or spreading, spiny, evenly pannose. Leaves: primaries forming straight, ± squarrose spines, 10-50 mm; secondaries filiform to clavate, 2-12(-20) mm, sparsely arachnose or glabrous. Heads 1-3 (in axils of spines). Peduncles 4-15 mm. Involucres turbinate to campanulate, 7-9 mm. Phyllaries 5, ovate. Florets 5-7; corollas pale yellow, 7.5-9 mm. Cypselae 4.5-5.5 mm, densely pilose (hairs 6-14 mm); pappi of ca. 25, subulate to setiform scales 6-7.5 mm. The two varieties of Tetradymia axillaris are partially sympatric and intergrade in areas of overlap.

Plant: shrub, < 15 dm, spiny; stems evenly tomentose Leaves: alternate and generally clustered in axils; main leaves 1-5 cm, forming straight spines, tomentose, becoming glabrous; clustered leaves 2-12(20) mm, thread- to club-like, ± glabrous INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads discoid, 1-3 in axils of previous year's growth; peduncles generally 4-15 mm, generally bracted; involucre 7-9 mm, obconic; phyllaries 5, ovate; receptacle naked Flowers: 5-7; corollas 7.5-9 mm, pale yellow, lobes long, spreading; anther bases ± sagittate, tips obtuse or acute; style branches papillate to short-bristly, tips truncate to conic Fruit: generally 4-5 mm, densely long-white-hairy, obconic or fusiform, often angled; pappus of ± 25 slender scales, 6-7.5 mm Misc: Sagebrush or saltbush scrub; 1200-2300 m.