Herbs, loosely to densely matted, not scapose, (1-)2-4 × 0.5-2 dm, densely white-or grayish-lanate to tomentose or floccose. Stems spreading, often with persistent leaf bases, up to 4 height of plant; caudex stems matted, decumbent to spreading; aerial flowering stems spreading to erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, 0.5-1.5 dm, lanate to tomentose or floccose. Leaves basal or sheathing up stems 4 cm, 1 per node or fasciculate at tips of caudex branches; proximal leaves: petiole 1-3(-4) cm, to-mentose, blade obovate to rounded, 1-2(-2.5) × 1-2 cm, lanate to tomentose; distal leaves sessile, blade elliptic to rounded, 0.3-1 × 0.3-1 cm, lanate to tomentose. Inflorescences cymose, 10-25 × 5-12 cm; branches dichotomous, lanate to tomentose or floccose; bracts 3-4, scalelike, triangular, 1.5-7 mm. Peduncles absent. Involucres 1 per node, turbinate, 3-4 × 2-3 mm, tomentose to floccose; teeth 5-6, erect, 0.8-1.5 mm. Flowers (3-)5-7 mm, including elongate, sharply triangular, slightly winged, stipelike base; perianth white to rose or yellowish, glabrous; tepals connate proximally, dimorphic, those of outer whorl oblanceolate to lanceolate, 3-5 × 1.5-2 mm, those of inner whorl obovate, 4-6 × 2-3 mm; stamens included to slightly exserted, 2.5-5 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes 3-gonous, nearly winged, 3.5-4 mm, glabrous. 2n = 40.
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