Aerial shoots (3-)5-15 cm, from caudices, caudices ascending to primarily vertical. Basal leaves 5-20(-30+), 2-ternate, occasionally irregularly so; petiole 2-5(-10) cm; terminal leaflet sessile or basally attenuate and appearing petiolulate, obovate to obtriangular, 0.5-2(-3) × 0.5-2 cm, bases narrowly cuneate to cuneate, margins incised to dissected on distal 1/3-1/2, apex broadly acute to obtuse, surfaces sparsely villous, often nearly glabrous; lateral leaflets 2×-lobed, lobing frequently irregular; ultimate lobes 1-2.6 mm wide. Inflorescences 1-flowered; peduncle villous; involucral bracts 3(-4), 1-tiered, ±similar to basal leaves, highly reduced, 2-ternate or irregularly so, bases distinct; terminal leaflet sessile or basally attenuate and appearing petiolulate, obovate to pinnatifid, 1-2(-2.5) × 0.5-2 cm, base narrowly cuneate to cuneate, margins incised to dissected on distal 1/3-1/2, apex broadly acute to obtuse, surfaces villous; lateral leaflets 2×-parted, division frequently irregular; ultimate segments 1-2.5 mm wide. Flowers: sepals 5-6, blue to purple, oblong or narrowly obovate, 8-20 × 6-10 mm, abaxially villous; stamens 80-100, purple; styles red. Heads of achenes spheric, rarely cylindric; pedicel 2-6(-18) cm. Achenes: body ovoid, 2-4 × 1-1.5 mm, not winged, villous; beak straight, 2-4(-6) mm, glabrous. 2 n =16.
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