Perennials, (6-)8-20(-40) cm (cespitose), mildly aromatic; taprooted, caudices branched. Stems (1-)2-5, gray-green, tomentose. Leaves persistent, basal rosettes persistent, gray-green to white; blades ovate, 2-4 × 0.5-1 cm, 2-3-pinnately or -ternately lobed, lobes linear to narrowly oblong, apices acute, faces moderately to densely sericeous. Heads (proximal sessile, distal pedunculate) in (leafy) spiciform arrays 4-9(-12) × (0.5-)1-5 cm. Involucres hemispheric, 3-4 × 3.5-4 mm. Phyllaries (obscurely scarious) densely tomentose-villous. Florets: pistillate 8-10; functionally staminate 15-30; corollas (or lobes) yellow-orange or deep red, 2.2-3.5. Cypselae oblong-lanceoloid, somewhat compressed, 0.4-1 mm, faintly nerved, glabrous.