Biennials or perennials, 6–15(–30+) cm (sometimes rhizomatous). Stems ± erect; internodes 6–8(–25) mm, ± strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 15–60(–120+) × 2–6(–10) mm (margins strigoso-ciliate), faces usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely strigillose. Heads at tips of ± leafy stems. Involucres hemispheric or broader, (8–)12–25+ mm diam. Phyllaries (30–)60–80+ in (4–)5–6+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, (7–)12–13+ mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute to attenuate (most hard, apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous. Ray florets 15–55+; corollas usually blue adaxially, laminae 12–20 mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets (60–)100–150+; corollas (3.5–)4–5+ mm. Cypselae 3–4+ mm, faces ± hairy, hair tips forked or glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae each a corona 0.1–0.5 mm; on disc cypselae each of 8–12+ lanceolate scales 0.5–1 mm plus 1–2+ subulate to setiform scales 1–4 mm.

Flowering (May–)Jul–Aug(–Oct). Gravelly banks, canyon walls, with junipers, pinyons, and yellow pines; (1900–)2100–2500(–3300) m; Colo., N.Mex.