Small to rather large tufted herb; lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stem. Lamina membr. to submembr., ± flaccid, narrow-lanceolate, acuminate, 15-25-30-(35) × 1-4 cm.; upper surface glab. or nearly so except for us. distinct thin pellicle, midrib and main veins evident; lower surface clad in closely appressed white satiny tomentum, midrib prominent, pale. Margins entire, ± sinuate, slightly recurved, narrowing to slender ribbed petiole (3)-5-10 cm. long, which widens into ribbed, subcoriac., ± 5-10 cm. long sheath, ± clad in soft subfloccose deciduous hairs. Scape rather slender, up to c. 35 cm. long, clad in deciduous floccose hairs; bracts ∞, narrow-linear, ascending, rather stiff, lowest up to 10 cm., uppermost 10 mm. long, tomentum as in lvs. Capitula c. (2)-3-(5) cm. diam.; phyll. linear-subulate, subacuminate, up to 14 mm. long, ± hairy on back, midvein evident. Ray-florets ∞, ± 25 mm. long, tube narrow-cylindric; limb narrow-oblong, 3-4-toothed, veins evident. Disk-florets c. 7-10 mm. long, narrow-funnelform; teeth narrowly ovate-oblong. Achenes narrow, compressed-cylindric, glab. or nearly so, grooved, 3-4 mm. long. Pappus-hairs slender, white to sordid-white, up to c. 7 mm. long, hardly barbellate.

n = 54, 54 + 2f

Woody-based herb with branchlets arising from a multicipital stock, usually close to soil surface; living leaves in large rosettes at the tips of branchlets, the whole plant forming irregular patches of numerous rosettes; leaf sheaths densely imbricate and compacted, forming a pseudo-stem. Leaf lamina (15)- 25-35 × 1.8-3 cm, subcoriaceous or flaccid, older leaves weakly patent, lanceolate to oblong; upper surface finely sulcate, concolorous, dark green, glabrate or with a thin, scurfy greenish pellicle; lower surface densely covered in glistening appressed tomentum, midrib prominent and sometimes purple; tip acute; margins entire, slightly revolute; base more or less gradually narrowed to a purple, ribbed petiole up to 8 cm long. Sheath up to 6 × 2.5 cm, purple (rarely greenish), clad in floccose, white hairs or glabrate. Scape purple, thinly clad in floccose, white hairs, slender, up to 30 cm long; bracts several in upper half, erect, linear; monocephalous. Ray florets c. 40, ligulate, the limb narrow-linear, white. Disc florets c. 50, 6 mm long, funneliform, yellow, tube with long eglandular biseriate hairs. Achene fusiform, grooved, 3-4.5 mm long, glabrous or slightly hairy; hairs short, appressed, bifid. Pappus unequal, c. 6 mm long, of c. 30 barbellate bristles.