Biennials or perennials, (2–)3–15(–30) cm. Stems ± erect; internodes (0.1–)2–25(–50) mm, strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or linear, 20–40(–90+) × 1–5(–10) mm, not fleshy (margins strigoso-ciliate), faces usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely strigillose (midribs scabrous). Heads at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves). Involucres hemispheric, (8–)10–14+ mm diam. Phyllaries 30–40+ in 4–5+ series, the longer lance-ovate to lanceolate, 8–10(–12+) mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute to attenuate (most hard, apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous. Ray florets 20–40; corollas usually white adaxially, laminae 7–15(–20+) mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets (60–)80–120+; corollas 4–6 mm. Cypselae 3.5–4+ mm, faces hairy, hair tips forked or glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae each a corona 0.1–0.5 mm or 10–20 subulate scales 1–2.5 mm; on disc cypselae 15–30 subulate to setiform scales (4–)5–6 mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep). Grassy slopes, gypseous shales; 1300–2400 m; Colo., Nebr., N.Mex., S.Dak., Wyo.