An erect perennial herb, 8–45(60) cm. tall from a woody rootstock; roots long thong-like. Stems annual, 1-several, simple, densely appressed leafy, the leaves diminishing or absent towards the stem apex and base, coarsely pubescent to tomentose, the hairs curved-appressed flagelliform. Mid-cauline leaves subsessile, up to c. 5.5 x 2 cm., oblong-lanceolate, apex rounded to obtuse or acute mucronate, base broadly cuneate to sub-cordate, margins entire and scabrid-ciliate, lamina sparsely hispid-scabridulous on both surfaces, or glabrescent. Capitula solitary and terminal on the stem, or occasionally up to 3–4 clustered. Involucres up to c. 12 mm. long, broadly campanulate to widely spreading and hemispheric. Phyllaries few-seriate, subequal, c. 12 mm. long, linear-subulate to lorate-lanceolate, attenuate and purple-tipped, strigose or patent pilose especially on the midrib. Receptacle shallowly alveolate. Corollas purple, c. 9 mm. long. Achenes up to c. 4.5 mm. long, narrowly cylindric, narrowly 4–8-ribbed, glabrous or sparsely setulose, glandular; outer pappus of short setaceous scales; inner pappus of copious, white, barbellate setae, c. 6 mm. long.
