Plants 2-8(-12+) cm. Leaves: blades spatulate or oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, sparsely to densely hairy, often lanuginose, sometimes sericeous, sparsely to sometimes moderately or densely gland-dotted. Heads 1-35(-60) per plant. Peduncles 0.5-8(-12) cm. Outer phyllaries 6-12, 6.8-9(-11.5) mm, margins 0-0.2 mm wide, sometimes slightly scarious, abaxial faces usually densely hairy. Ray florets 9-15(-21); corollas 9-13 mm. Cypselae 2-3(-4) mm; pappi 2.5-3.5 mm. 2n = 28, 30.

Flowering (May-)Jun-Aug(-Sep). Edges of montane forests, alpine meadows above timberline, open savannas; (2100-)3000-3900 m; Colo., N.Mex., Wyo.