Heads mostly borne singly. Peduncles 10-30 cm. Involucres 3-4 × 4-5 cm, moderately arachnoid. Phyllary apices widely spreading, long-acicular, spines 5-15 mm. Corollas 29-33 mm, tubes 9-11 mm, throats 8-12 mm, lobes 9-10 mm; style tips 3-4 mm. Cypselae dark brown, 4.5-6 mm; pappi 20-25 mm.

Flowering summer (Jul-Aug). Stream banks, rocky slopes; of conservation concern; 600-1200 m; Wash.

Variety wenatchense is known only from the Wenatchee Mountains of central Washington. Little is known of its ecology.