Biennials or perennials, 10–35(–75+) cm (usually rhizomatous and/or stoloniferous). Stems erect; internodes (5–)10–15(–35) mm, strigillose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or lance-linear, 15–45(–75+) × 2–10(–20) mm, not fleshy (margins strigoso-ciliolate), glabrous or glabrate. Heads at tips of stems (seldom surpassed by leaves). Involucres ± hemispheric or broader, 12–18+ mm diam. Phyllaries 30–45 in 4–6+ series, the longer obovate to lance-ovate or lanceolate, 10–12(–14) mm (l/w = 3–5), apices obtuse to acute (some or all hard, ± apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous. Ray florets 20–34+; corollas usually white or pinkish adaxially (abaxially blue to lavender), laminae 10–15(–25+) mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 80–150+; corollas 4 mm. Cypselae 3–4(–5) mm, faces glabrous or ± stipitate-glandular, hair tips not forked or glochidiform; pappi persistent, each a bidentate corona 0.1–0.4(–0.8) mm. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul–Aug(–Sep). Meadows, yellow-pine forests; 2400–2600 m; Ariz., N.Mex.