Stems erect or ascending, not rooting nodally, glabrous. Roots not thickened basally, canescent. Proximal cauline leaf blades narrowly elliptic to linear, 2.5-4.8 × 0.2-0.9 cm, base narrowly acuminate, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescences: bracts lanceolate to linear. Flowers: receptacle glabrous; sepals 5, spreading or reflexed from base, 3-5 × 1-2 mm, glabrous; petals 5, 4-6 × 1-2 mm; nectary scales glabrous. Heads of achenes hemispheric, 2-4 × 3-5 mm; achenes 1-1.4 × 0.8 mm, glabrous; beak subulate, straight, 0.2-0.4 mm.

Flowering spring (May). In moist meadows; 1200-1700 m; Idaho, Oreg.