Cineraria frigida Richardson in J. Franklin et al., Narr. Journey Polar Sea, 748. 1823; Senecio atropurpureus (Ledebour) B. Fedtschenko subsp. frigidus (Richardson) Hultén; S. atropurpureus var. ulmeri (Steffen) A. E. Porsild; S. frigidus (Richardson) Lessing; Tephroseris atropurpurea (Ledebour) Holub subsp. frigida (Richardson) Á. Löve & D. Löve

Perennials, (5–)10–20(–30+) cm (proximal herbage ± arachnose, unevenly glabrate; distal stems and phyllaries ± villous, at least some hairs purplish or with purple crosswalls; rhizomes creeping). Stems loosely clustered. Leaves basal and cauline (basal leaves often withering before flowering); petioles weakly winged or unwinged, 2–4 cm; blades ovate, 1.5–3 × 1–2 cm, margins subentire or wavy-denticulate, weakly revolute (proximal similar, petioles winged, usually 1–3 cm; mid and distal leaves 2–5, sessile, bractlike). Heads 1(–2). Involucres tapering to peduncles. Phyllaries usually 13 or 21, greenish (tips greenish), 7–10 mm. Ray florets usually (8) 13 or 21; corolla laminae usually 9–15 mm, rarely 0 or to 2–3 mm. Disc florets 30–50+; corollas yellow. Cypselae glabrous; pappi white, whitish, or brownish. 2n = 48, 96.

Flowering Jun–Aug. Open alpine tundra, low-shrubby associations; 0–1000 m; B.C., N.W.T., Nunavut, Yukon; Alaska; e Asia (Russian Far East).