Taprooted perennial. Stems prostrate to ascending, 1–5 cm. Herbage glabrous, often glaucous. Leaf blades ovate to elliptic, 1–2 cm long, entire. Heads 5 to 30, often partially hidden among the leaves. Involucre cylindric, 6–10 mm high; phyllaries linear, glabrous, scarious-margined. Rays 5 to 12, often turning purplish; ligules 3–6 mm long. Achenes light brown, 4–9 mm long, narrowed above but not beaked (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Moist, stony soil of moraine, talus slopes; alpine, rarely lower on streambanks (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).