Plants erect, 0.2-0.8(-1.5) × 0.1-0.7(-1) dm, pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline; petiole 0.5-3(-4) cm; basal blade broadly elliptic to obovate, 0.5-2.5 × (0.3-)0.5-2 cm, thinly pubescent adaxially, more densely so to tomentose abaxially; proximal cauline leaf soon deciduous, 1, blade similar to basal leaf blades only 1-2(-2.5) × 0.5-1.5 cm, mucronate to awn-tipped, awn mostly 2-4 mm; distal cauline leaf blade persistent, 1 per node, sessile, blade linear to linear-lanceolate, 0.1-1.5 × 0.05-0.15 cm, becoming hard and thornlike with age. Inflorescences with involucres in dense clusters in axils of bracts, these on short shoots and each subtended by cauline leaves; bracts 2, subopposite to opposite, linear, 0.5-1(-1.2) cm × 1-2 mm, awns straight, 2-4 mm. Involucres 1, greenish, urceolate, 3-ribbed, 2-3 mm, corrugate, pubescent, rarely villous near base in some; teeth 3, unequal, with thickened anterior tooth toward base, 5-10 mm, sometimes expanding and becoming lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, others 0.5-1.2 mm; awns straight. Flowers 1-2, included to slightly exserted; perianth yellow, cylindric, 1.5-1.8 mm, densely pubescent abaxially; tepals connate ca. 2/ 3 their length, mono-morphic, oblong, rounded, entire apically; stamens 9, slightly exserted; filaments distinct, 0.5-1 mm, glabrous; anthers yellowish, ovate, 0.2-0.3 mm. Achenes brown, 3-gonous, (1.5-)1.8-2.2 mm. 2n = 38, 40.
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