Perennials, 10-30(-40) cm (proximal stems and leaves floccose-tomentose, becoming glabrate, especially on the adaxial leaf faces; distal stems and phyllaries floccose-tomentose, hairs yellow; rhizomes creeping). Stems single or loosely clustered. Leaves basal and cauline (basal often withering before flowering); petioles unwinged or weakly so, 2-5 cm; blades ovate to broadly lanceolate, 2-5 × 1-3 cm, margins subentire to dentate or wavy (proximal cauline petioles usually winged, 0.5-1.5 cm, blades narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 2-4+ × 0.5-2 cm, margins subentire to wavy; mid and distal cauline smaller, clasping, bractlike). Heads 1-4(-6+). Involucres ± abruptly contracted to peduncles. Phyllaries mostly (13-)21, purplish (at least distally), 8-10(-12) mm. Ray florets (0) or 13-21; corolla laminae to 10 mm. Disc florets 40-60; corollas ochroleucous or white. Cypselae glabrous; pappi white. 2n = ca. 46 (48-).

Flowering Jun-Aug. Localized in moist tundra meadows; 0-2000 m; Yukon; Alaska.