Plants 3-14 cm. Stems simple, lightly arachnoid. L eaves often wider than 8 mm; basal lanceolate to elliptic, margins denticulate, arachnoid throughout; cauline narrower, crowded, usually surpassing heads. Heads crowded. Phyllaries unequal in 3-5 series; outer usually 2-4 times longer than wide.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Usually dry sites, arctic and alpine tundras; 10-1300 m; N.W.T., Yukon; Alaska.