Plants ascending to decumbent, (0.3-)0.5-1.5(-2) × 1-5(-7) dm, thinly pubescent. Leaves basal; petiole 1-3 cm; blade spatulate to ovate, 0.5-2 × 0.3-1.2(-1.5) cm, thinly pubescent to densely tomentose at least abaxially. Inflorescences mostly flat-topped, open to rather densely branched, greenish to reddish; bracts persistent, 2, usually leaflike at proximal nodes and similar to leaf blades, short-petiolate, oblong to ovate, 0.3-0.8 cm × 2-6 mm, becoming sessile, reduced and scalelike at distal nodes, linear, acicular, often acerose, 0.1-0.5 cm × 0.5-1 mm, awns straight, 0.5-1 mm. Involucres in open clusters with 1 at node of dichotomies, reddish, cylindric, not ventricose, 2.5-3 mm, corrugate, without scarious or membranous margins, thinly pubescent with slender curly hairs; teeth spreading, unequal, 0.4-1.2 mm with 3 longer ones more erect than 3 shorter and less-prominent ones; awns uncinate, 0.3-0.6 mm. Flowers exserted; perianth white to rose or red, usually with white lobes, cylindric, 3-3.5 mm, pubescent; tepals connate ca. 1/ 2 their length, monomorphic to slightly dimorphic, narrowly oblong to obovate, rounded apically, those of outer whorl usually slightly broader and longer than those of inner whorl; stamens 9, mostly included; filaments distinct, 2.5-3 mm, glabrous; anthers pink to red, oblong, 0.4-0.5 mm. Achenes brown, lenticular, 2.5-3 mm. 2n = 38.
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