Herbs 2-2.5 cm tall, perennial, stemless. Caudex slender, usually branched, apically covered with remains of petioles. Rosette leaves petiolate; petiole 1-1.5 cm; leaf blade elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 1.5-4.5 × 0.8-1.5 cm, pinnately lobed, abaxially grayish white and densely tomentose, adaxially dull green, scabrid, and with articulate hairs; lateral lobes 4-8 pairs, ovate, oblong, or semiorbicular, margin entire or denticulate, apex rounded and mucronate. Capitulum solitary, in center of leaf rosette. Involucre campanulate, 0.8-1.3 cm in diam. Phyllaries in 3 or 4 rows, apically and near margin greenish or purple, pubescent; outer and middle phyllaries narrowly ovate-elliptic, 8-10 × 1.5-2 mm, apex long acuminate; inner phyllaries linear, 12-15 × ca. 1.5 mm, apex acute to subobtuse. Receptacle bristles to 1.5 mm. Corolla purplish red, 1.6-1.8 cm, tube 1.2-1.4 cm, limb ca. 4 mm. Achene cylindric, ca. 2 mm, transversely rugose. Pappus pale brown; outer bristles ca. 3 mm, scabrid; inner bristles ca. 1.3 cm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 30*.
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