Plants (5-)17-44(-78) cm, usually more than 13 cm. Leaves: basal and proximalmost cauline usually spatulate, rarely broadly elliptic, bases gradually attenuated to winged petioles, margins weakly crenate; cauline 5-16, (5-)12.5-47(-90) × (0.7-)2-7(-13) mm. Phyllaries: shortest 1-2.3(-3.9) mm. Disc florets: corollas (3.3-)4-4.8(-5.6) mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul-Sep (occasionally spring, British Columbia, Washington). Alpine slopes, rocky seepage slopes, montane forest meadows, rolling grasslands, dry prairies, coulee margins, rocky riverbanks and lakeshores, roadsides, disturbed areas; 0-3000+ m; Alta., B.C., Man., N.W.T., Ont., Que., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Mich., Minn., Mont., N.Mex., N.Dak., Oreg., S.Dak., Utah, Wash., W.Va., Wyo.; Mexico.

Variety simplex is found in western North America and is disjunct along the shores of the upper Great Lakes and in southern Quebec. Its presence in extreme southwestern Nunavut is unconfirmed but is possible.