Plants 5–40 cm. Stems usually erect, rarely decumbent, tan, villous to tomentose. Leaves: basal persistent at flowering; cauline margins entire, faces eglandular, abaxial tomentose (± glabrescent). Heads borne singly or in corymbiform arrays, usually at ends of branchlets. Involucres broadly obconic, (5–)8–13 mm. Phyllaries purple-tipped, faces tomentose, eglandular; inner scarious. Disc florets 10–20; corollas lavender (color more intense in tubes); style-branch appendages lanceolate, 0.4–0.8 mm. Pappi tan, equaling or longer than cypselae. 2n = 10.
Home