Herbs, perennial, dimorphic; rhizome covered by marcescent petiole. Vernal phase: leaves in basal rosette; petiole 2-4 cm, white lanuginous; leaf blade oblanceolate or obovate-oblong, 2-6 × 1-3 cm, papery, abaxially arachnoid lanate, adaxially subglabrous, base attenuate, obtuse, subtruncate, or shallowly cordate, margin denticulate, sinuate, runcinate, apex mucronate. Scapes 1 or tufted, 5-20 cm, arachnoid lanate; bracts many, subulate or linear, 6-7 mm. Capitula solitary, terminal, radiate, 1-1.5 cm in diam.; involucre obconic; phyllaries ca. 3-seriate, abaxially lanuginous, outer phyllaries linear, ca. 4 mm, inner phyllaries linear-lanceolate, ca. 8 mm. Marginal female florets bilabiate, outer lips oblong, adaxially white, abaxially pink, or both surfaces pink, 3-8 × 1-1.5 mm, inner lips filiform, 1.5-2 mm, coiled; central bisexual florets many, bilabiate, tubular, corolla 6-8 mm, outer lips oblong, ca. 3 mm, inner lips 2.5-3 mm. Achenes fusiform, 5-6 mm, hairy; pappus dark white, 5-7 mm. Fl. Mar-Jul. Autumnal phase: leaves in basal rosette; petiole 2.5-8.5(-25) cm, arachnoid lignose; leaf blade ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 6-15 × 4-6.5 cm, papery, abaxially arachnoid lanate, adaxially subglabrous, base attenuate, subtruncate, or shallowly cordate, margin denticulate or sinuate, apex mucronate. Scapes 1 or tufted, 15-35 cm, arachnoid lanate; bracts many, subulate or linear, 1-1.5 cm. Capitula solitary, terminal, radiate, 1.5-2 cm in diam.; involucre campanulate; phyllaries ca. 3-seriate, abaxially lanuginous, outer phyllaries linear, 5-6 mm, inner phyllaries linear, 15-16 mm. Florets cleistogamous, closed, marginal florets female, 1-seriate, bilabiate, tubular, corolla ca. 8 mm; central bisexual florets many, bilabiate, tubular, corolla ca. 7 mm. Achenes fusiform, ca. 7 mm, hairy; pappus dark white, 11-12 mm. Fl. Aug-Nov. 2n = 46.
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