Plants 20-40(-60) cm. Primary stems usually (2 -)5 mm diam. Leaf blades linear, rarely linear-lanceolate, 5-25(-35) × 0.2-1(-2) mm. Heads in open paniculiform arrays. Phyllaries 3-4 × 1-2 mm. Receptacles with hooked, swollen-based hairs. Cypselae 2-3 mm, 4-6-ribbed, long-setulose. 2n = 8.

Flowering late Sep-Oct. Calcareous soils and gravels on or near limestone outcrops; 0-650 m; Tex.