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Basal leaves few to numerous, densely clustered, up to c. 8 x 1 cm., obovate-oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, apices rounded to obtuse, tapering-attenuate below before widening abruptly into overlapping leaf bases, margins entire or somewhat crispate, upper surface puberulous to glabrescent, lower surface thinly pilose especially on midrib; cauline leaves few, widely spaced, sessile, c. 3.5 cm. long, narrowly oblanceolate, decreasing in size to the stem apex.
Achenes c. 1.5 mm. long, turbinate, narrowly c. 5-ribbed, setulose particularly at the base and on the ribs, rugulose between the ribs; outer pappus of membranous, oblong-lanceolate, ± acuminate scales equalling or exceeding the achene in length; inner pappus of purple or whitish, barbellate setae up to c. 7 mm. long.
Involucres up to 5 mm. long, broadly campanulate-spreading; phyllaries ± lanceolate, progressively longer towards the inside, mucronulate at apex, somewhat obscurely longitudinally 3-ribbed, puberulous to glabrescent and glandular outside.
Stems annual, 1-several, erect wiry and somewhat flexuous, simple or sparingly branched, more densely leafy at the base, pilose; branches up to c. 12 cm. long, ascending, straight, slender.
A slender perennial herb up to c. 30 cm. tall, from a vertical woody rootstock with numerous thong-like roots; rootcrowns lanate.
Capitula 3-many, corymbiformly cymose, sometimes solitary, stalks up to c. 5 cm. long.
Corolla purple, 7–9 mm. long, narrowly funnel-shaped, lobes 1.5 mm. long.
Receptacle convex, shallowly alveolate.
