Perennials, 5 -55(-70) cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices usually simple, thick. Stems erect to ascending, hirsute or hirsuto-villous to densely strigillose (hairs loosely appressed, slightly crinkled), eglandular. Leaves basal (usually persistent) and cauline; basal blades linear-oblanceolate to broadly lanceolate or spatulate, (20-)30-160(-200) × 7-45 mm, cauline gradually reduced distally (bases distinctly subclasping, except when greatly reduced), margins entire, faces glabrous or glabrate, hirsute, or villous to sparsely villosulous, eglandular. Heads 1(-8). Involucres 6-9(-12) × 10-22(-25) mm. Phyllaries in 2-3(-4) series (faces and margins) usually glabrous, rarely sparsely villous (cross walls not colored), densely and evenly stipitate-glandular. Ray florets 30-80; corollas usually blue to rose purple or pink, sometimes white to pale blue, 8-16(-25) mm (mostly 1.5-3 mm wide), laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3.8-6 mm. Cypselae 2.5-2.8 mm, (4-)5(-7)-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 20-30 bristles.
