Subshrubs, spreading, polyga-modioecious, 0.5–2(–3) × 1–3(–4) dm, tomentose to sericeous. Stems: caudex spreading; aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, arising at nodes of caudex branches and at distal nodes of short, nonflowering aerial branches, (0.1–)0.3–0.8(–1.2) dm, tomentose to sericeous, with a whorl of 6–10(–12), leaflike bracts ca. midlength, these similar to leaf blades, 0.3–0.8(–1) × 0.1–0.2 cm. Leaves in compact basal rosettes, fasciculate, and sheathing up stems; petiole 0.05–0.2 cm; blade linear to narrowly spatulate, (0.2–)0.3–1(–1.5) × 0.1–0.2(–0.3) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, silky-villous or sericeous adaxially, margins entire, inrolled to tightly revolute. Inflorescences capitate, 0.8–2 cm wide; branches absent; bracts absent immediately below involucre. Involucres 1 per node, turbinate, 3–5 × 2.5–4 mm, villous to sericeous; teeth 6–8, erect, 0.5–1 mm. Flowers 4–10 mm, including 0.5–1 mm stipelike base; perianth white to pale yellow or yellow, becoming pink to rose, villous abaxially; tepals monomorphic, obovate; stamens included to slightly exserted, 2–4 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes light brown, 2–2.5 mm, glabrous except for densely pubescent beak.
