Perennials, 3-12(-21 at lower elevations) cm; fibrous-rooted, rhizomatous, caudices decumbent, often branched, rhizomelike, sometimes taprootlike. Stems erect, distally villous (hairs with black cross walls), minutely glandular near heads. Leaves mostly basal (persistent), some cauline; blades spatulate to oblanceolate, (10-)20-50(-150) × 4-6(-15) mm, cauline linear, bractlike, margins entire (apices rounded to retuse), faces glabrous or sparsely hirsute, eglandular. Heads 1. Involucres 6-9 × 10-14 mm. Phyllaries in 2(-3) series, sparsely villoso-sericeous (hairs flattened, cross walls black, imparting distinct black color to involucres), glandular. Ray florets 45-74; corollas white to purple, 7-11 mm (mostly 1-2 mm wide), laminae spreading, tardily coiling. Disc corollas 2.4-3.2 mm. Cypselae (oblanceoloid-oblong) 2-2.3 mm, 2-nerved, faces strigoso-hirsute; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 15-30 bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Rocky slopes, talus, alpine and subalpine meadows, subalpine spruce-fir; 3100-4000 m; Colo., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.