Perennial, caespitose herbs. Flowering stems 1-3 (-8) cm, densely floccose-tomentose. Leaves radical in a basal rosette, linear oblanceolate, 15-30 (-40) x 1.5-3 mm, acute, densely white tomentose on the lower surface, less on the upper surface. Capitula 3-10 in narrow spike, 2-3 mm across, campanulate. Phyllaries 2-3 seriate, ovate, 4-5 x 0.5-1.5 mm, acute, pale brownish-dark brownish at the upper end, whitish towards the lower end. Female florets many, filiform, disc florets 5-8, tubular, bisexual. Corolla of female florets 3-4 mm long, 3-lobed; those of bisexual florets 5-lobed. Cypselas 1-1.5 mm long, brown, sparsely covered with fine pointed hairs.

Fl.Per.: July-September.

Syntypes: Western Himalaya, Kashmir alt. 10000 ft, J. L. Stewart (K!); Western Tibet, Aitchison (K!), Karakorum alt. 13000 ft, C. B. Clarke (K).

Commonly grows in alpine meadows between boulders, slopes and moist areas in between 2200-4200 m; Distribution: Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, India and China.