Perennials, 1-3 cm (± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1 mm, ± hirsute to strigose or glabrate. Leaves basal and cauline, blades ± spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate or linear, 12-40(-75) × 2-6+ mm, not fleshy, faces ± strigillose. Heads ± sessile (usually nestled among rosette leaves). Involucres ± hemispheric, (10-)12-25+ mm diam. Phyllaries 30-45(-60) in 4-6+ series, the longer narrowly lanceolate or linear to subulate, (10-)12-14(-17) mm (l/w = 6-9), apices obtuse to acute, abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrate. Ray florets 11-40; corollas white adaxially, laminae (9-)12-18+ mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 100-150+; corollas 6.5-9(-12+) mm. Cypselae 4(-6+) mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 20-30 setiform scales 6-8+ mm; on disc cypselae 20-30+ setiform scales 6.5-11+ mm. 2n = 18. Flowering Mar-Jun(-Aug). Openings in pine forests, meadows, gravelly hills, sandy soils; (1300-)1600-2300(-3300) m; Alta., Man., Sask.; Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Kans., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Dak., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo.; Mexico (Chihuahua).