Rather large tufted herb with lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stem. Lamina subcoriac., ± 7·5-15-(30) × (2)-3-4 cm., elliptic- to narrow-oblong to lanceolate-oblong; upper surface bright green, ± pilose, midrib us. distinct; lower surface clad in appressed white satiny, often tinged brown, tomentum, midrib conspicuous, purple, lateral veins us. evident. Apex subacute, apiculate; margins entire or finely distantly denticulate, ± ciliate with white to pale brown hairs, narrowed to grooved, purplish, sparingly silky, flat, ± 3 cm. long, winged petiole. Sheath widening from petiole, thin, ribbed, c. 5 cm. long, ± pilose. Scape ± 15-20-(30) cm. long, ± villous, often purplish; bracts linear, ∞, lower up to c. 6 cm. long, ± villous. Capitula (3)-5-(7) cm. diam.; phyll. pilose to nearly glab., ± 15 mm. long. Ray-florets ± 2-3 cm. long, limb narrow-oblong, 3-toothed; disk-florets tubular, ± 5 mm. long, suddenly expanded to toothed apex. Anthers almost tailed. Achenes grooved, cylindric, 5-6 mm. long, us. glab. or nearly so. Pappus-hairs up to 8 mm. long, finely barbellate, white.

Large tufted herb, lf-sheaths closely imbricate around stem. Lamina ± 15-25 × 2.5-5 cm., coriac., elliptic- to oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate; upper surface ± sparsely hairy when young, becoming glab., midrib and main veins evident; lower surface densely clad in white to very pale buff appressed velvety tomentum, midrib prominent, rather dark to pale. Apex acute to subacuminate; margins inrolled, entire or with a few teeth obscured by hairs, cuneately narrowed to ribbed petiole c. 5 × 1·5 cm. Sheath up to 10 × 3 cm., often flushed pale purple, clad in dense subappressed tomentum within. Scape (15)-30-40 cm. long, stout, ribbed, clad in deciduous floccose hairs; bracts ∞, lower ones lflike, up to 15 cm. long, including sheath; upper linear, up to 25 mm. long, floccose. Capitula (25)-40-50 mm. diam.; phyll. linear, acuminate, ± 15 mm. long, glab. except in apical part. Ray-florets ∞, ± 2 cm. long, limb narrow-spathulate, 3-toothed. Disk-florets 7-8 mm. long, tubular to narrow-funnelform, teeth narrow-triangular. Achenes glab. or with very few hairs, cylindric, strongly ribbed, 3-4 mm. long. Pappus-hairs white, up to c. 7 mm. long, finely barbellate.

Woody-based herb with short branchlets arising from a multicipital stock, usually just below the soil surface; living leaves in rosettes at the tips of branchlets; the whole plant forming a mat of rosettes. Leaf sheaths densely imbricate and compacted into a pseudostem. Leaf lamina (4)-8-19- (30) × (1.2)-2-4-(7) cm, often flaccid, leaves usually at first erect, becoming decumbent with age, elliptic, oblong, or occasionally obovate; upper surface sometimes obscurely sulcate, concolorous, paleto mid-green, often densely yellow-tomentose when young but hairs usually deciduous; lower surface densely covered in a tomentum of cream to buff hairs; tip acute; margins entire, flat, with a very narrow rim of hairs slightly darker than those of lower surface; base obliquely cuneate to rounded, occasionally truncate; petiole short, up to or rarely exceeding lamina length, occasionally longer, green or purple, clad in floccose, whitish hairs. Scape purple, clad in whitish tomentum, up to 40 cm long; bracts numerous, erect, linear sometimes leaf-like; monocephalous. Capitula up to 6 cm diam. Phyllaries in several series, linear-subulate, erect, glabrate to silky tomentose. Ray florets 70-80, ligulate, the limb linear-lanceolate, white. Disc florets c. 130- 170, funneliform, yellow; tube with eglandular, biseriate hairs. Achene fusiform-cylindric, ribbed, 4- 5 mm long, glabrous or with scattered bifid hairs. Pappus unequal, c. 6 mm long, of c. 20-30 bristles, n = 54.