Perennials, 20–50 cm (caudices fibrous-rooted). Herbage sparsely pubescent to tomentose (especially on abaxial leaf faces and among heads). Stems single or loosely clustered. Leaves progressively reduced distally; petiolate; blades triangular, triangular-lanceolate, or lanceolate, 3–10(–15) × 1.5–4 cm, bases cordate to truncate or tapered, margins serrate or dentate (mid and distal leaves sessile, bractlike). Heads nodding, 6–10+ in racemiform-paniculiform arrays. Calyculi of 2–5+ lance-deltate to filiform bractlets (lengths ¹ / 5 – ¹ / 2 phyllaries). Phyllaries ± 8, 6–9 mm, tips green. Ray florets 0. Cypselae glabrous.

Late summer. Montane meadows; 3000–3500 m; N.Mex.