Rhizomatous dwarf, subscapose, densely white villous–lanate, erect, perennial, herb with long slender stolons.  Flowering stem 4–6 cm long, surrounded by collar of marcescent leaf  bases.  Leaves crowded at the base, densely white felted on either side, broadly spathulate, 3–4 (–5) cm long (including 1.5–2 cm long petiole), 1.3 – 1.8 (–2) cm wide, attenuate at the base, entire, apex rounded – obtuse, inconspicuously 3–veined, midrib prominent; cauline leaves sessile, spathulate, 0.5–0.8 cm long, upper most leaves linear–lanceolate, surrounding the involucre. Capitula terminal, solitary, 3.5 – 4.5 cm across. Involucre broadly campanulate. Phyllaries 2–seriate, densely lanate, acuminate, outer ones ca 7 mm long, ca 2 mm wide, lanceolate, inner phyllaries 10–12 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, oblong. Ray florets deep blue–violet, 14–16 mm long including ca 3 mm long corolla tube, ca 2 mm wide, hairy, eglandular. Disc florets brownish or orange, 5 – 5.5 mm long, tube 1–1.5 mm long, limb 3.5–4 mm long including ca 1 mm long, erect, triangular, pilose or glabrous lobes. Cypselas ca 3 mm long, brown, obovoid, densely strigillose, compressed. Pappus biseriate, outer bristles white, scaly, 0.5–1.2 mm long, inner ones capillary 6–7 mm long, brownish or buff.