Perennials, 1-3 cm (± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1 mm, ± strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades narrowly oblanceolate to linear, 5-25(-40+) × 1-1.5(-3) mm, fleshy, faces ± strigoso-sericeous, little, if at all. Heads ± sessile. Involucres ± campanulate, 8-18+ mm diam. Phyllaries 50-65+ in 5+ series, the longer ± lance-linear, 7-11(-13) mm (l/w = 6-9), apices attenuate, abaxial faces sparsely strigose or glabrate. Ray florets 15-35; corollas white adaxially, laminae 8-12+ mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 120-180+; corollas 4-5(-6+) mm. Cypselae 3.5-4.5 mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae ca. 30 subulate to setiform scales (1-)5-7 mm; on disc cypselae ca. 30 subulate to setiform scales 5.5-7.5+ mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Mar-Jun. Gravelly benches, sandy slopes; 700-1800 m; Alta., B.C., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nebr., N.Dak., S.Dak., Utah, Wyo.