Biennials or perennials, 10-35(-75+) cm (usually rhizomatous and/or stoloniferous). Stems erect; internodes (5-)10-15(-35) mm, strigillose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or lance-linear, 15-45(-75+) × 2-10(-20) mm, not fleshy (margins strigoso-ciliolate), glabrous or glabrate. Heads at tips of stems (seldom surpassed by leaves). Involucres ± hemispheric or broader, 12-18+ mm diam. Phyllaries 30-45 in 4-6+ series, the longer obovate to lance-ovate or lanceolate, 10-12(-14) mm (l/w = 3-5), apices obtuse to acute (some or all hard, ± apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous. Ray florets 20-34+; corollas usually white or pinkish adaxially (abaxially blue to lavender), laminae 10-15(-25+) mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 80-150+; corollas 4 mm. Cypselae 3-4(-5) mm, faces glabrous or ± stipitate-glandular, hair tips not forked or glochidiform; pappi persistent, each a bidentate corona 0.1-0.4(-0.8) mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul-Aug(-Sep). Meadows, yellow-pine forests; 2400-2600 m; Ariz., N.Mex.