Plants 20-50 cm. Cauline leaf bases cuneate or sometimes rounded, not clasping. Heads usually 5-20. Phyllaries green, oblanceolate (outer) to linear (inner), unequal, outer exceeding inner and wider, outer often foliaceous, apices acute. 2n = 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96.

Flowering Jun-Sep. Openings in montane woods, middle to high elevation grasslands, alpine meadows; 1400-3200 m; Alta., B.C.; Alaska, Mont., Wash.

Variety foliaceum is more common in the northern part of the range of the species.