Perennials, 5-15 cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, primary rhizomes slender, lignescent, sometimes herbaceous, leafy (like runners), producing terminal rosettes, apparently without central axes. Stems ascending (greenish), sparsely pilose (hairs spreading-ascending), strigose proximally, eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline (petioles ¹ / 2 - ² / 3 lengths of blades); basal (greenish) blades spatulate, 10-60 × 3-10 mm, margins entire, faces sparsely strigose, eglandular; cauline (restricted to proximal ¹ / 2 of stems) blades lanceolate to elliptic (bases subclasping). Heads 1(-4) (from branches distal to midstem). Involucres 4-5 × 8-10 mm. Phyllaries in 3-4 series (erect, apices appressed), margins ciliate, midveins sparsely hirsute (hair cross walls not colored), densely minutely glandular. Ray florets 32-45; corollas white, 8-11 mm, laminae slightly coiling. Disc corollas 2.5-3 mm. Cypselae ca. 1.6 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 15-19 bristles.

Flowering Jun-Aug(-Oct). Crevices and ledges, cliff bases, outcrops, usually facing north, commonly in moss carpets, pine, mixed conifer forests; of conservation concern; 2100-2900 m; Ariz.