Perennials, 6-25+ cm; rhizomatous (mat forming, rhizomes horizontal to sub-erect, branched). Stems usually 1 (sometimes more, clustered), usually glabrous, sometimes bases and leaf axils tomentose. Basal leaves petiolate; blades ovate to obovate, lyrate, or reniform, 10-30+ × 10-25+ mm, bases cuneate (sometimes tapering to winged petioles) to subcordate or contracted, margins crenate, dentate, or weakly lobed. Cauline leaves abruptly reduced (sessile, not clasping; lanceolate, entire or pinnately lobed to pinnatisect). Heads 1-2. Peduncles 0 or relatively reduced (then densely tomentose). Calyculi conspicuous (bractlets cyanic). Phyllaries 21, deep red or green (tips red), 6-8 mm, glabrous. Ray florets 0 or 11-13; corolla laminae (yellow, purple streaks in veins) 10-14+ mm. Disc florets 60-75+; corolla tubes 2-2.5 mm, limbs 4-5 mm. Cypselae 1.5-2 mm, glabrous; pappi 5-6 mm. 2n = 46, 92, 138.

Flowering mid Jun-early Aug. Exposed rocky slopes, tundra turf; 0-1900 m; Alta., B.C., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., Que., Yukon; Alaska.

Packera cymbalaria occurs in three, disjunct regions: western Alaska eastward into western N.W.T. and south into northwestern British Columbia; Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec; and Siberia. Considerable morphologic overlap exists between western and eastern populations in North America; western populations have slightly different flavonoid chemistries and chromosome numbers. Western populations are either diploid or tetraploid; eastern populations are hexaploid. The correct name for this species may prove to be Packera heterophylla (Fischer) E. Wiebe, based on Cineraria heterophylla Fischer.