Tufted herb with lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stem. Lamina plicate, coriac., ± 9-12 × 4-5 cm., elliptic- to broad ovate-oblong; upper surface glab. or with scattered sparse hairs, dull green, midrib and main veins ± distinct; lower surface densely clad in felted velvety ferruginous tomentum; apex obtuse to subacute, base cordate with rather narrow sinus; margins recurved, entire, ± sinuate. Petiole stout, up to ± 12 cm. long, densely clad in floccose ferruginous hairs, gradually widening into sheath up to c. 8 cm. long. Scape stout, up to 30 cm. long, clad in ferruginous tomentum; bracts linear, with deciduous tomentum. Capitula ± 4-5 cm. diam.; phyll. ∞, linear, up to ± 15 mm. long, clad in spreading ferruginous hairs in upper half, midrib evident. Ray-florets c. 20 mm. long, base thickened, limb linear, 3-toothed, veins evident. Disk-florets narrow-funnelform, c. 8 mm. long, teeth triangular. Achenes narrow-cylindric, glab., very strongly ribbed. Pappus-hairs up to 7 mm. long, sordid-white to rufous, very finely barbellate.

Woody-based herb with short branchlets arising from a sparsely multicipital stock, usually just below the soil surface; living leaves in rosettes at the tips of branchlets; the whole plant forming a clump of several rosettes. Leaf sheaths densely imbricate and compacted into a pseudostem. Leaf lamina (4)-6-8-(12) × (2)-3.5-4.5-(5) cm, coriaceous, at first erect but later decumbent, cordate to ovate; upper surface often sulcate, concolorous, yellowishto glaucous-green, glabrous or with scattered white hairs when young; lower surface densely clad with ferrugineous or whitish hairs: tip acute; margins entire, recurved, often with a rim of ferrugineous hairs; base prominently cordate; petiole up to twice lamina length, purple, covered in floccose ferrugineous hairs. Scape purple, clad in dense ferrugineous tomentum, up to 35 cm long; bracts publicanumerous, erect, linear, monocephalous. Capitula obcorup to 6 cm diam. Phyllaries in several series, linear-subulate, erect, glabrous in lower part and localdensely brown-tomentose towards tip. Ray florets c. 25, ligulate, the limb linear-lanceolate, white. Disc florets c. 110, funneliform, yellow; tube with eglandular biseriate hairs. Achene fusiform cylindric, ribbed, 4-5 mm long, glabrous. Pappus unequal, 5-6 mm long, of 25-30 bristles.