Plants 20–50 cm. Cauline leaf bases cuneate or sometimes rounded, not clasping. Heads usually 5–20. Phyllaries green, oblanceolate (outer) to linear (inner), unequal, outer exceeding inner and wider, outer often foliaceous, apices acute. 2n = 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96.

Flowering Jun–Sep. Openings in montane woods, middle to high elevation grasslands, alpine meadows; 1400–3200 m; Alta., B.C.; Alaska, Mont., Wash.

Variety foliaceum is more common in the northern part of the range of the species.