Plants 7–24 cm. Stems 1–10, ± hairy. Leaves ± hairy. Heads 5–35+ per plant. Involucres 8–11 × 9–14 mm. Phyllaries: outer 9–13, weakly to moderately keeled, lanceolate, 5–8 mm, apices acuminate to acute; inner 9–18, 4–8 mm. Ray florets 8–14; corollas 11–17 mm. Disc florets 30–75+; corollas 3–5 mm. Cypselae 2–3 mm; pappi of 5–6(–8) usually lanceolate, aristate scales 2–3.5 mm. 2n = 30.

Flowering (May–)Jun–Jul(–Sep). Roadsides, open areas, edges of forests; (1000–)1500–2500(–3400) m; Alta., Sask.; Colo., Mont., N.Dak., Utah, Wyo.