Rhizomatous, perennial herbs with woody root stock, stem erect, scarcely flexuose, 15–20 (–30) cm tall, glabrous below, villous to white pubescent above, especially near the base of capitula. Leaves basal and cauline, ovate or oblong, 3–7 cm long, 3– 4.5 cm wide, pilose on either side, acute–acuminate, sinuate at the base, dentate, teeth acute, petiole 3–5 (–6.5) cm long, ± broad sheath–like. Capitula solitary or as many as 3 on stout peduncles, (2–) – 2.5 – 3 cm across. Phyllaries 3–seriate, foliaceous, 8–14 mm long, 7–10 (–12) mm wide. Ray florets 45, ligule mauve, ca 2 cm long. Disc florets tubular, mauve, 7–8 mm long excluding ovary. Cypselas ca 4 mm long, brown, obovate, hairy. Pappus biseriate, simple, bristles white or ± reddish, almost equalling disc florets.