Herbs, perennial, 10--30(--45) cm tall. Taproot red-brown to black-brown; bark unbroken. Caudex slightly thickened. Leaves basal and 1--5 on main axis of inflorescences, persistent at anthesis; petiole broad; leaf blade oblong-oblanceolate, obovate-oblong, or sometimes lanceolate, (2--)4--7(--12) X 0.5--1.3(--2) cm including petiole, base attenuate, apex acute to obtuse. Inflorescences usually solitary, corymbose or paniculate forming a capitulum; rachis 2--4 X branched, without or with very few simple sterile branches, apical part of main axis obtusely angular; spikes 2 or 3 clustered on apex of branch, each with 7--9(--13) spikelets; spikelets 2-or 3-flowered; bracts broadly ovate, 2.5--3.5 mm, herbaceous part ovate to oblong; first bractlet 4.5--5 mm. Calyx funnelform, 5--6 mm; tube ca. 1 mm in diam.; limb white, usually plicate, 3--4 mm in diam.; lobes indistinct. Corolla pale purple. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Aug.
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