Herbs 10-15 cm tall, perennial, caespitose. Caudex thick, densely covered with dark brown remains of leaf sheaths. Stem erect, simple, grayish white, lanate. Basal and stem leaves sessile, linear, 2-8 × 0.2-0.4 cm, abaxially grayish white and densely lanate, adaxially brownish or yellowish and lanate, base widened and sheathing stem, margin entire, apex obtuse. Capitulum solitary, terminal on stem. Involucre campanulate, 2-3 cm in diam. Phyllaries in 4 or 5 rows, narrowly ovate-elliptic to linear, densely villous, apex acuminate; outer phyllaries ca. 8 × 2 mm, apically reflexed; middle phyllaries ca. 13 × 2 mm, apically reflexed; inner phyllaries ca. 13 × 2 mm, apex acuminate. Corolla pale reddish purple, 1.1-1.2 cm, tube 8-9 mm, limb ca. 3 mm. Achene black, ca. 2.6 mm, apex with a short crown. Pappus white; outer bristles ca. 2 mm; inner bristles ca. 1 cm. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.
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