Perennials, 10-20(-30) cm (rhizomes trailing or branching). Herbage unevenly villous-tomentose or floccose, glabrescent. Stems single (from loosely clustered basal leaves). Leaves progressively reduced distally; ± petiolate; blades ovate to oblanceolate, (3-)4-8(-10) × 2-3(-4) cm, bases tapered, margins shallowly dentate (mid and distal leaves smaller, bractlike, often clasping). Heads erect or weakly nodding (especially in bud), (2-)5-9(-12) in loose, cymiform arrays. Calyculi of 2-7 lance-linear to linear bractlets (lengths ¹ / 3 - ² / 3 phyllaries). Phyllaries (± 8) ± 13, 8-10 mm, tips black (villous). Ray florets ± 8; corolla laminae 8-15 mm. Cypselae glabrous. 2n = 40.

Flowering summer. Alpine and subalpine rocky sites and talus slopes; 2000-3000 m; B.C.; Wash.