Herbs, perennial, dimorphic; rhizome covered by marcescent leaf sheath. Vernal phase: puny, leaves in rosette, rhizome covered by marcescent fibrous leaf sheath; petiole 2-4 cm; leaf blade ovate, 0.8-2 × 1-1.5 cm, papery, abaxially densely white lanuginous, adaxially glabrous, base truncate or slightly decurrent, margin sparsely denticulate, apex rounded or mucronate. Scapes 1 or tufted, 4.5-7 cm, arachnoid; bracts 2 or 3, subulate, ca. 5 mm. Capitula solitary, terminal, ca. 1 cm in diam.; involucre campanulate; phyllaries ca. 3-seriate, outer phyllaries lanceolate, 4-5 mm, inner phyllaries ovate, 9-10 mm. Florets chasmogamous, marginal female florets 1-seriate, bilabiate, outer lips ovate-lanceolate to oblong, ca. 4.5 mm, inner lips filiform, reduced; central bisexual florets many, bilabiate, tubular. Achenes (immature) terete, ca. 6 mm, sparsely pubescent, ribbed; pappus dark purple, ca. 4 mm. Fl. Jun-Jul. Autumnal phase: larger than vernal phase, leaves in rosette, rhizome covered by marcescent fibrous leaf sheath; petiole 5-7 cm, ± lanuginous; leaf blade spatulate to oblong or lyrate, 6-7 × 2-3 cm, papery, abaxially white lanuginous, adaxially glabrous, base decurrent, margin crenate or undulate, apex rounded or mucronate. Scapes 1 or tufted, 6-35 cm, lanuginous; bracts linear-subulate, ca. 2 cm. Capitula solitary, terminal, ca. 2 cm in diam.; involucre campanulate; phyllaries 3-seriate, outer phyllaries linear-subulate, ca. 6 mm, inner phyllaries oblong, 1.3-2.2 cm. Florets cleistogamous, closed, marginal florets female, 1-seriate, bilabiate, outer lips oblong, ca. 1 mm, inner lips filiform, reduced; central bisexual florets many, bilabiate, tubular, corolla as long as female florets. Achenes fusiform, ca. 5 mm, pilose, apex tapering; pappus violet-purple, 6-7 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep.
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