Perennials, (5-)10-20(-30+) cm (proximal herbage ± arachnose, unevenly glabrate; distal stems and phyllaries ± villous, at least some hairs purplish or with purple crosswalls; rhizomes creeping). Stems loosely clustered. Leaves basal and cauline (basal leaves often withering before flowering); petioles weakly winged or unwinged, 2-4 cm; blades ovate, 1.5-3 × 1-2 cm, margins subentire or wavy-denticulate, weakly revolute (proximal similar, petioles winged, usually 1-3 cm; mid and distal leaves 2-5, sessile, bractlike). Heads 1(-2). Involucres tapering to peduncles. Phyllaries usually 13 or 21, greenish (tips greenish), 7-10 mm. Ray florets usually (8) 13 or 21; corolla laminae usually 9-15 mm, rarely 0 or to 2-3 mm. Disc florets 30-50+; corollas yellow. Cypselae glabrous; pappi white, whitish, or brownish. 2n = 48, 96.

Flowering Jun-Aug. Open alpine tundra, low-shrubby associations; 0-1000 m; B.C., N.W.T., Nunavut, Yukon; Alaska; e Asia (Russian Far East).