Robust tufted herb, sts forming large clumps of offset plants from branched runners; sheaths densely compacted to form a thick pseudostem up to c. 10 cm. long. Lamina lanceolate to lanceolate- or ovate-oblong, sulcate, coriac., (2)-3-4-(6) dm. × (2.5)-4-8-(10) cm., acute to acuminate; upper surface covered by conspicuous pellicle of matted glistening hairs, separating when old; lower clad in dense closely appressed white satiny tomentum, midrib us. distinct; margins entire, slightly recurved, narrowed to short petiole; sheath clad in dense long white hairs, often forming a ± deciduous pellicle. Scape stout, up to c. 4 dm. long, clad in appressed white satiny tomentum; bracts ∞, lamina linear-subulate, up to c. 10 cm. long, the uppermost us. crowded, forming a pseudo-involucre around capitulum 4-10 cm. diam. Phyll. ∞, linear-subulate, up to c. 2 cm. long, acute, strongly veined, floccose on margins and towards apex. Ray-florets ∞, (2)-3-4 cm. long; limb narrow-oblong, very conspicuous, us. 4-toothed. Disk-florets c. 7-8 mm. long, narrow-funnelform; teeth minute, broad-triangular. Achenes compressed-cylindric to almost fusiform, often curved, strongly grooved, glab., 5-7 mm. long. Pappus-hairs slender, white, up to 9 mm. long, very finely barbellate.

Large tufted herb; lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stem. Lamina sulcate, rigid, coriac., acute, ± 25-30 × (2)-2.5-4 cm., oblong- to narrow-lanceolate; upper surface with very thin us. loose pellicle, midrib stout, yellowish to orange, 3-5 mm. wide near base, prominent; lower surface densely clad in appressed satiny white tomentum; margins entire, recurved, subobliquely tapering to short broad petiole or directly into coriac., ribbed, pale sheath c. 15 × 2-3 cm., clad without in floccose white hairs. Scape ± compressed, stout, c. 30-35 cm. long, clad in white. floccose tomentum; bracts ∞, lower lflike, ± appressed to scape c. 10 × 1 cm. including sheath. Capitula (3)-4-6-(7) cm. diam.; phyll. linear-subulate, acuminate, scarious, ± fleshy at base, c. 2-2.5 cm. long, clad in ± floccose hairs. Ray-florets ∞, ± 15 mm. long, limb very narrow; disk-florets narrowly tubular-funnelform, c. 7 mm. long, teeth minute. Achenes c. 4 mm. long, narrow-cylindric, ribs with minute stiff ascending hairs. Pappus-hairs white, up to 8 mm. long, finely barbellate.

2n = 108

n = 54 + 3–4f

Stout woody-based herb with branchlets arising from a multicipital stock, usually hidden; living leaves in large rosettes at the tips of branchlets, the whole plant forming an irregular sward-like patch; leaf sheaths densely imbricate and compacted, forming a pseudo-stem. Leaf lamina (16)-28-(40) × (2.5)-3.5-(5.5) cm, coriaceous, older leaves somewhat patent, lanceolate or occasionally oblong; upper surface sulcate, somewhat rugose in some plants, bronze-green with a conspicuous orange stripe along the midrib, pellicle bronze, obvious, and deciduous in old leaves; lower surface densely covered in glistening appressed tomentum, midrib prominent; tip acute; margins entire, often slightly revolute; base more or less cuneate, occasionally abruptly narrowed to the petiole. Petiole short. Sheath up to 13 × 4 cm, yellowish, clad in floccose white hairs. Scape densely clad in floccose white hairs, stout, up to 45 cm long; bracts several in upper half, erect, up to 8 cm long, strongly revolute; monocephalous. Ray florets 160-200, ligulate, the limb narrow-linear, white. Disc florets 200-250, 7-8 mm long, funneliform, yellow, tube with long eglandular biseriate hairs in lower half. Achene fusiform to obovoid, strongly grooved, 4.5-5 mm long, moderately to densely hairy; hairs short, appressed, bifid. Pappus unequal, up to 6 mm long, of c. 30 barbellate bristles.