Perennial herb forming hemispheric mounds up to 3 dm across from an intricately branching caudex; leaves all basal, short-petiolate, the blade narrowly elliptic, 4-12 mm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, silky-tomentose below, green and strigose above, the margins revolute; inflorescence stems up to 40 or more per plant, 1.5-5.5 cm long, silky tomentose; inflorescences capitate; involucres 5-lobed, 3-5 mm high, 5-6.5 mm wide; flowers yellow, 2.5-4.5 mm long, 5-12 per involucre; petals villous pubescent on outer surface; ovaries and seeds villous. Flowers late May and June.