Perennials, 10-30(-40) cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices or rhizomes sometimes resembling taproots, multicipital. Stems erect (often purplish proximally), sparsely to moderately hirsute to villoso-hirsute, eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; proximal blades narrowly oblanceolate, rarely oblanceolate-obovate, (10-)40-160 × 2-8 mm, mid and distal narrowly lanceolate, reduced, margins entire, faces sparsely hirsute or glabrous, eglandular. Heads 1-2(-4) (from branches at midstem). Involucres 6-10 × 12-19 mm. Phyllaries in 2(-3) series (linear-lanceolate, apices linear-acuminate), sparsely to moderately woolly-villous (hairs whitish, flattened, with clear cross walls), sometimes sparsely minutely glandular. Ray florets 42-82; corollas white to pink or pink-purple, 10-15 mm (mostly 1-2 mm wide), laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3.8-5.2 mm. Cypselae 1.7-2 mm, 2-nerved, faces strigose; pappi: outer of setae or scales, inner of 15-20 bristles.

Flowering (Jun-)Jul-Aug(-Sep). Rocky sites and meadows, near timberline and above; 2800-3200 m; N.W.T., Nunavut, Yukon; Alaska.