Perennials, 15–65 cm (taproots relatively long, caudices swollen). Stems 1–3, erect or ascending, scapiform, branched near middles, glabrous or hispid, sometimes stipitate-glandular distally. Leaves mostly basal (rosettes); petiolate; blades elliptic, lanceolate, linear, oblanceolate, obovate, or spatulate, 3–30 × 0.5–8 cm (bases attenuate) margins usually entire or weakly dentate, sometimes serrate, dentate, or pinnately lobed, apices rounded, faces glabrous or hispid to hispidulous (sometimes glaucous). Heads (1–)3–15(–30), borne singly or in ± corymbiform arrays. Calyculi of 5–12, narrowly triangular, glabrous or tomentulose bractlets 1–3 mm. Involucres turbinate-campanulate, 7–21 × 8–12 mm. Phyllaries 10–16, lanceolate or oblong, 8–10 mm, (bases keeled and thickened, margins scarious) apices usually acute, sometimes attenuate or obtuse (often ciliate-tufted), abaxial faces glabrous or tomentulose, sometimes stipitate-glandular, adaxial glabrous. Florets 20–50; corollas golden yellow, 9–18 mm. Cypselae dark to golden reddish or yellowish brown, fusiform, 3.5–8 mm, tapered distally or beaked, ribs 10–13 (strong); pappi white, 4–9 mm.
Moist, often alkaline meadows, especially in mountains. Moist meadows, low wet areas, swales, bogs at elevations of 400-2700 metres.