Dimorphic plant, spring form scapose, floriferous, smaller than autumn form. Stems 8-19 cm long, erect, simple, densely cobwebby hairy. Radical leaves numerous, oblanceolate-oblong, 5-16 cm×13-45 mm, apex obtuse. mucronulate, base narrowed into petiole, margins lyrate-pinnatifid, segments remotely depressed-orbiculate, terminal segments ovate, irregularly dentate or rarely laciniate. Heads solitary, 15 mm across; involucre tubular, 8-10×5-10 mm, bracts in 3 series, loosely imbricate, membranaceous, glabrate to cobwebby hairy, outer shorter, linear, middles ones 0.5 mm broad, inner ones oblanceolate. Ray florets 1 series; corolla 10-12 mm long, bilabiate, one lip 2-lobed, lobes linear, 2-2.5 mm long, second lip 3 lobed, lobes connate, elongate, ligulate, separate at tip or entire. Disc florets bisexual; corolla 7 mm long, bilabiate, lobes of one lip 2, linear, 2.5 mm long, lobes of second lip 3, connate, short trifid at apex. Achenes 4.5-6 mm long, brown or blackish purple. Pappus 4.5-5 mm long, bristles unequal, persistent. Autumn form taller, with larger leaves and cleistogamous flowers.

ILAN: Nanshan, Sasaki s. n. 1930; Nanhutashan, Sasaki et al. 17392. NANTOU: Tatachia, Masamune 3832.

Eastern Siberia, China to Japan. Taiwan, in alpine regions at 3,000 m; very rare, not collected for more than half a century.