Herbs 2-3 cm tall, perennial, caespitose. Caudex branched, covered with brown remains of leaf sheaths. Stem erect, simple, white sericeous. Leaves sessile, linear, 1-2.5 × 0.2-0.3 cm, both surfaces grayish white, densely sericeous, and with a conspicuous midvein, base somewhat widened and sheathing stem, apex acute. Capitulum solitary, terminal on stem. Involucre campanulate, 1-1.5 cm in diam. Phyllaries in 3 or 4 rows, densely brown villous; outer phyllaries green, narrowly ovate-elliptic, 8-10 × 2-2.5 mm, apically reflexed; middle and inner phyllaries basally yellowish green and apically purplish red, linear, 10-12 × 1-2 mm. Corolla purplish red, 0.9-1.3(-1.6) cm, usually gland-dotted, tube 4-6(-9.5) mm, often with hairs, limb 5-7 mm, lobes 3-4.5 mm. Achene cylindric, 2-3 mm, densely white villous. Pappus straw-colored; outer bristles 0.5-2 mm, inner bristles basally purple, 1-1.2 cm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.
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