Perennials, mostly 1-2+ cm (usually ± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1(-2) mm, strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 10-35+ × 2-5+ mm, not fleshy, faces usually ± strigose, sometimes glabrous. Heads usually on scapiform peduncles 5-60+ mm, sometimes sessile. Involucres hemispheric to campanulate, 8-15 mm diam. Phyllaries 18-32 in 3-4+ series, the longer ± oblanceolate, 6-9 mm (l/w = 3-5), glabrate, or sparsely strigillose, apices obtuse to acute, abaxial faces glabrous. Ray florets 13-21+; corollas usually white, sometimes pink or blue, adaxially, laminae 6-12 mm, abaxially usually glandular-puberulent, sometimes glabrous. Disc florets 30-60+; corollas 3.5-5.5 mm. Cypselae 4.5 mm, faces glabrous or hairy at bases, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 24-30+ subulate to setiform scales 5-6 mm; on disc cypselae 24-30+ subulate to setiform scales 5.5-6.6 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering (May-)Jul-Aug. Meadows, granite and limestone ridges; 2000-3100 m; Colo., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Utah, Wyo.