Perennials, 10–25 cm (cespitose), mildly aromatic (caudices relatively slender). Stems gray-green, glabrate. Leaves persistent, gray-green; blades (basal) oblanceolate, 2–7 × 0.1 cm, 2-pinnately lobed (lobes linear or oblanceolate; cauline blades smaller, 1–2-pinnate or entire), faces silky-canescent. Heads (5–22) in spiciform arrays 5–9 × 1–1.5 cm. Involucres broadly globose or subglobose, 4 × 4–7 mm. Phyllaries green (margins black or dark brown), densely villous. Florets: pistillate 6–13; bisexual 15–30; corollas 1.5–2.5 mm, hairy (at least on lobes). Cypselae 0.8–1 mm, glabrous. 2n = 18.

Flowering mid–late summer. Alpine meadows, protected areas, bases of rocks; 3100–4200 m; Colo., Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Utah, Wyo.