Perennials, 1–5 cm; taprooted, caudices diffuse with extensive systems of rhizomelike, relatively long and slender branches. Stems erect (simple, ± scapiform), villous, granular-glandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; blades spatulate to oblanceolate-spatulate, 10–20 × 2–4(–5) mm, mid larger than basal and proximal, margins entire or shallowly (2–)3-lobed or -toothed apically (apices obtuse to nearly truncate), faces moderately villous, minutely glandular. Heads 1. Involucres (4–)5–7 × 9–12 mm. Phyllaries in 2(–3) series, densely lanate-villous (hairs to 3 mm, often with dark purple cross walls), glandular. Ray florets 30–55; corollas white to lavender, 4–8 mm, laminae (filiform to narrowly straplike, 0.3–2 mm wide, often involute) erect, rarely spreading, not coiling or reflexing. Disc florets 3.8–4.8 mm. Cypselae 3–3.8 mm, 2-nerved, faces strigillose to strigoso-hirsute; pappi: outer 0 (or inconspicuous), inner of 20–25 (usually ± purple-red tinged, sometimes whitish, variable within populations) bristles.
