Herbs, perennial. Rhizome with flowering stems and sterile stems. Stems 10-15 cm tall; entire plant white lanate, denser on peduncles. Leaves oblong-oblanceolate, 1-3 cm × 2-5 mm, base gradually narrowed, semiamplexicaul, apex acuminate. Capitula in terminal corymbs. Involucre 1.5-1.8 cm in diam.; phyllaries 4-or 5-seriate, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 5-8 × ca. 2 mm; outer ones white, dry membranous, base dark brown, apex acuminate; inner ones lanceolate, subleathery, nearly black outside, margin white, membranous. Female florets few, narrowly funnelform, ca. 1.5 mm, limbs 5-lobed. Bisexual florets light brown, funnelform above, columnar below, ca. 4 mm, limbs 5-lobed. Pappus ca. 4 mm. Fl. Aug.