Robust densely branched subshrub up to 10 cm. tall; branchlets close-set, densely clad in imbricate lvs forming compacted rosettes; plant often forming dense patches up to c. 1 m. diam. Lvs erect, becoming reflexed, sheaths persistent. Lamina 10-15-20-(30) × 1·5-2-(3) mm., linear to linear-subulate, coriac., rather rigid; both surfaces densely clad in short appressed white matted hairs; apex obtuse to sub-acute, sts subcucullate, sts apiculate; slightly narrowed at base to pale membr. sheath ± = lamina, ± clad in deciduous matted hairs. Scape reduced to minute stalk densely clad in floccose hairs, sts elongating to c. 5 cm. at fruiting stage and then hairs sparse or absent, ebracteate. Capitula 10-20 mm. diam. or more, at first at least closely subtended by lvs; phyll. pale, slender, linear-subulate, up to c. 12 mm. long, ± scarious, pilose (hairs long-persistent at apex). Ray-florets c. 15-17 mm. long, linear, slightly expanded at tips; disk-florets c. 8 mm. long, narrow-funnelform, flaring at 5-toothed apex. Achenes 3-4 mm. long, cylindric-compressed; hairs on rather obscure ribs short, rather stiff. Pappus us. white; hairs up to 9 mm. long, minutely barbellate.
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