Subshrubs, spreading, polyga-modioecious, 0.5-2(-3) × 1-3(-4) dm, tomentose to sericeous. Stems: caudex spreading; aerial flowering stems erect, slender, solid, not fistulose, arising at nodes of caudex branches and at distal nodes of short, nonflowering aerial branches, (0.1-)0.3-0.8(-1.2) dm, tomentose to sericeous, with a whorl of 6-10(-12), leaflike bracts ca. midlength, these similar to leaf blades, 0.3-0.8(-1) × 0.1-0.2 cm. Leaves in compact basal rosettes, fasciculate, and sheathing up stems; petiole 0.05-0.2 cm; blade linear to narrowly spatulate, (0.2-)0.3-1(-1.5) × 0.1-0.2(-0.3) cm, densely white-tomentose abaxially, silky-villous or sericeous adaxially, margins entire, inrolled to tightly revolute. Inflorescences capitate, 0.8-2 cm wide; branches absent; bracts absent immediately below involucre. Involucres 1 per node, turbinate, 3-5 × 2.5-4 mm, villous to sericeous; teeth 6-8, erect, 0.5-1 mm. Flowers 4-10 mm, including 0.5-1 mm stipelike base; perianth white to pale yellow or yellow, becoming pink to rose, villous abaxially; tepals monomorphic, obovate; stamens included to slightly exserted, 2-4 mm; filaments pilose proximally. Achenes light brown, 2-2.5 mm, glabrous except for densely pubescent beak.
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