Herbs 12-20[-30] cm tall, perennial, monocarpic. Caudex unbranched. Stem solitary, ca. 1 cm in diam., erect, simple. Lower and middle stem leaves petiolate; leaf blade narrowly obovate or narrowly oblong, 5-10[-17] × [0.5-]1-2[-3] cm, both surfaces green and sparsely arachnoid but glabrescent, margin sinuate-dentate, apex obtuse to acute. Upper stem leaves linear, 2-5 × 0.5-1.5 cm, both surfaces purplish black and densely white lanate, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate. Capitulum solitary, on flat stem apex, sessile, hidden at anthesis by lanate indumentum. Involucre broadly campanulate, [1-]2-3[-6?] cm in diam. Phyllaries not seen. Receptacle without bristles or papillae. Corolla bright purple to purple, 7-12.5 mm, tube 2-5 mm, limb 5-7.5 mm. Achene cylindric, 3-5 mm, smooth, glabrous. Pappus dirty white; outer bristles ca. 5 mm; inner bristles ca. 1 cm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Sep.
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