Perennials, (15-)30-50 cm (rhizomes woody, suberect or creeping). Herbage loosely arachno-tomentose, unevenly glabrescent. Stems single or clustered. Leaves progressively reduced distally; weakly petiolate; blades lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 10-18+ × 1-2(-3+) cm, bases tapered, margins entire or wavy (often with dark, cartilaginous denticles; mid leaves similar, smaller, sessile; distal leaves bractlike). Heads usually 1 (sometimes subtended by 1-2 smaller heads). Calyculi of 5-8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths ¹ / 2 - ⁷ / 8 + phyllaries). Phyllaries ± 21, 9-12(-14) mm, tips not notably blackened (short-hairy). Ray florets ± 13; corolla laminae (5-)15-20 mm. Cypselae glabrous. 2n = 40.

Flowering summer. Rocky, moist or drying sites, especially on mountain slopes; 1500-2500 m; Alta., B.C.; Idaho, Mont., Wyo.