 "obispoense" is always less than in height, producing densely tomentose leaves, particularly for lower surfaces.When in bloom, the flowering heads have a nodding habit, but at the fruiting stage, they are erect.The plant's outer green to dark purple phyllaries are of dimension 15 to 20 millimeters; moreover these structures are strongly recurved and somewhat channeled, with the upper half tapering to a one to four millimeter spine.