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Perennials, 30–80(–100) cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices relatively thick. Stems erect, glabrous or sparsely hirsuto-pilose (hairs 0.5–1 mm), often minutely glandular distally. Leaves basal (usually withering by flowering) and cauline; basal blades oblanceolate-spatulate, 30–80(–150) × 4–18(–28) mm, margins entire, often ciliate (main veins sometimes also), faces glabrous, eglandular or distal sparsely minutely glandular; cauline blades ovate to ovate-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or lanceolate, nearly even-sized distally or sometimes mid largest (continuing to immediately below heads, bases usually clasping to subclasping). Heads (2–)4–20 in corymbiform arrays. Involucres 6–9 × 11–22 mm. Phyllaries in 2–3(–4) series, usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely hirsuto-pilose, minutely glandular. Ray florets 75–150; corollas blue to lavender, rarely whitish, 8–16 mm (mostly 1 mm wide), laminae slightly coiling at least at tips. Disc corollas 4–5 mm. Cypselae 1.5–1.8 mm, 2(–4)-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 20–30 bristles.