Perennials, (2–)8–18(–20, 30) cm; taprooted, caudices usually simple, rarely branched, relatively thick, woody. Stems ascending (greenish), loosely strigose to puberulent-strigose, sometimes sparsely minutely glandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline (leaf bases broadened or not, not thickened and whitish-indurate); basal blades linear to linear-oblanceolate, (20–)40–90(–120) × 1–4(–5) mm, cauline reduced distally or often little reduced on at least proximal 1/2 of stems, (bases gradually tapering) margins entire (apices acute), abaxial faces glabrous at least on distal 1/4–1/2, strigose proximally, adaxial loosely strigose, eglandular. Heads 1(–3). Involucres 5.5–7 × 10–15(–18) mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, densely and loosely hirsuto-villous (hairs whitish, without colored cross walls), minutely glandular. Ray florets 30–62; corollas white to pinkish, bluish, or lavender, (7–)8–12 mm, laminae coiling. Disc corollas 2.8–3.6 mm. Cypselae 2–2.6 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely villosulous (often hairs spreading); pappi: outer of setae or scales, inner of 12–15 bristles.
