Perennials, 2-4(-5.5) cm (cespitose, relatively loose); taprooted, caudices diffuse with extensive system of relatively long, slender, rhizomelike branches. Stems erect (simple, ± scapiform), sparsely hirsute, sparsely to densely minutely glandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; blades spatulate, (5-)10-25(-30) × 4-10 mm, distal cauline bractlike, margins 3- 5-lobed (lobes rounded), ultimately entire, faces finely puberulent, minutely glandular. Heads 1. Involucres 5-7 × 8-16 mm. Phyllaries in 2-3 series (purplish), hirsute to villoso-hirsute (hairs without colored crosswalls), minutely glandular. Ray florets 25-40; corollas white to pink, 4-7 mm, laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3-3.8 mm. Cypselae 1.9-2.2 mm, 2-nerved, faces finely strigoso-hirsute; pappi: outer 0 (or inconspicuous), inner of ca. 20 bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering late Jun-Aug. Rocky habitats, especially taluses, ponderosa pine, bristlecone pine, alpine meadows; 2400-4400 m; Calif., Colo., Nev., Oreg., Utah.