Perennials, 4-15(-20) cm; taprooted, caudices branched. Stems (usually white-indurate at bases) erect to slightly basally ascending, glabrous or densely white-strigose, eglandular. Leaves mostly basal (persistent); blades linear, 20-70(-90) × 1-2(-3) mm, cauline reduced (on proximal ¹ / 8 - ¹ / 2 of stems, bases white-indurate, usually thickened) margins entire, faces glabrous or strigose, eglandular. Heads 1. Involucres 5-10 × 7-10 mm. Phyllaries in 2-3 series, strigose to villoso-hirsute or villous, minutely glandular to eglandular. Ray (pistillate) florets 0. Disc corollas 4.5-7 mm. Cypselae (2.5-)3-4 mm, 2-nerved, glabrous proximally, faces sparsely sericeous on distal ¹ / 3 ; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 25-40 bristles.