Herbs, perennial, 15-25 cm tall, with a thick rootstock, gray pubescent, later glabrescent. Lower stem leaves: petiole short; leaf blade ovate, 1-2.5 × 0.5-1 cm, pubescent, 1-or 2-pinnatisect; segments 2(or 3) pairs, 3-lobuled or not; lobes or lobules linear, elliptic, or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.5-3 mm. Middle stem leaves pinnatisect. Upper leaves and leaflike bracts linear, elliptic-lanceolate, or elliptic, entire. Synflorescence a narrow spikelike panicle. Involucre ovoid or ovoid-oblong, 2-2.5(-3) mm in diam.; phyllaries puberulent, gland-dotted. Florets 4 or 5; corolla limb yellow or red. Achenes ovoid or obovoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.