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Leaves spirally arranged, ascending, subsessile, mostly 1–3.5 x 0.15 cm., linear, decreasing in size on the upper stem and branches usually grading into the phyllaries, acute at the apex, tapering slightly below, margins entire somewhat revolute, lamina ± stiffly coriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces.
Phyllaries numerous, glabrous, linear-lanceolate, stiffly subulate or pungent to the apex, margins hyaline in the lower part, the outer phyllaries from c. 4 mm. long, the inner to c. 8 mm. long.
Receptacle conical or dome-shaped, paleaceous; paleae becoming purplish above, 7–9 mm. long, narrowly lanceolate, stiffly subulate-pungent.
An erect tufted perennial herb to c. 50 cm. tall, with annual stems from a small woody rootstock; roots numerous, thong-like.
Stems several, wiry, branching above, densely leafy, glabrous or sparsely puberulous becoming pubescent at the base.
Capitula 3–9, solitary and terminal on leafy branches 3–13 cm. long.
Corollas purple, 5–7 mm. long, narrowly funnel-shaped, glabrous.
Involucres 7–11 x 10–12 mm., obconic-turbinate.
