Herbs, perennial, caespitose, 10-15 cm tall, with woody rootstock, usually not branched. Basal and lower stem leaves: petiole 20-30 mm, ± clasping; basal leaf blades oblong or elliptic, 4-6 × 2-4 cm, abaxially gland-dotted, 2- or 3-pinnatipartite or -sect; segments 3 or 4 pairs; lobes 2- or 3-partite; lobules elliptic-lanceolate or lanceolate, occasionally 1-3-serrate; rachis narrowly winged. Uppermost leaves oblong, 1(or 2)-pinnatipartite, 10-20 × 5-18 mm, leaflike bracts minute, pinnatipartite or entire. Synflorescence racemelike. Capitula nodding; peduncle 5-15 mm. Involucre subglobose, 5-8 mm in diam.; phyllaries glabrescent, scarious margin black; receptacle convex, pubescent. Marginal female florets 8-12. Disk florets 30-50, bisexual; corolla limb puberulent. Achenes ovoid-ellipsoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.

Slopes or rocky hills; 1700-2700 m. E Xinjiang [W Mongolia].