Perennials, 5–55(–70) cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices usually simple, thick. Stems erect to basally ascending, hirsute to hirsuto- or strigoso-villous (hairs loosely appressed, slightly crinkled), sometimes loosely strigose distally (var. thompsonii), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; basal blades linear-oblanceolate to broadly lanceolate or spatulate, (30–)50–100 × 5–25 mm, cauline gradually reduced distally (bases distinctly subclasping, except when greatly reduced), margins entire, faces hirsute, hirsuto-villous, sparsely villosulous, glabrate, or glabrous, eglandular. Heads 1. Involucres 5–9(–12) × 10–22(–25) mm. Phyllaries in 2–3(–4) series (margins usually ciliate), abaxially sparsely to moderately villoso-hirsute, usually eglandular, sometimes sparsely gland-dotted apically, rarely sparsely so over adaxial faces (especially in var. thompsonii). Ray florets 30–80; corollas usually blue to rose purple or pink, sometimes white to pale blue, 12–20(–25) mm (mostly 1.5–3 mm wide), laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3.5–4.5 mm. Cypselae 2.5–2.8 mm, (4–)5(–7)-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 20–32 bristles.
