Perennials, (15–)30–50 cm (rhizomes woody, suberect or creeping). Herbage loosely arachno-tomentose, unevenly glabrescent. Stems single or clustered. Leaves progressively reduced distally; weakly petiolate; blades lanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate, 10–18+ × 1–2(–3+) cm, bases tapered, margins entire or wavy (often with dark, cartilaginous denticles; mid leaves similar, smaller, sessile; distal leaves bractlike). Heads usually 1 (sometimes subtended by 1–2 smaller heads). Calyculi of 5–8+ linear to filiform bractlets (lengths ¹ / 2 – ⁷ / 8 + phyllaries). Phyllaries ± 21, 9–12(–14) mm, tips not notably blackened (short-hairy). Ray florets ± 13; corolla laminae (5–)15–20 mm. Cypselae glabrous. 2n = 40.

Flowering summer. Rocky, moist or drying sites, especially on mountain slopes; 1500–2500 m; Alta., B.C.; Idaho, Mont., Wyo.