Many-branched tufted perennial forming compact rounded cushion up to 10 cm. diam. with long stout central woody taproot. Stems 1-5 cm. long, crowded, ± erect, closely covered with imbricating lvs, the whole twig c.5 mm. diam. Lvs c. 5 mm. long; base 1·5 mm. wide, membr., sheathing, fringed with long hairs; lamina narrower, triangular to subulate, ± concave, tip subacute; hairs stiff, appressed, ± overlapping. Flowering branchlets short, not projecting above cushion, their lvs lacking the broad base but otherwise similar to lower lvs. Calyx c. 3 mm. long, lobes c. 1/2 length, rather broad, subacute, glab. within, the whole calyx covered outside with uniform stiff appressed overlapping hairs. Corolla yellow, 4-5 mm. diam., tube 5 mm. long, cylindric, lobes c. 2 × 2 mm., rotund, flat; filaments short, anthers 1·5 mm. long, tips protruding just above rather large scales; style 2-3 × calyx, stigma capitate. Nutlets dark, up to 2 × 1·5 mm.

Compact rounded cushion with woody taproot. Stems 1-5 cm long, crowded, ± erect, closely covered with imbricating lvs; lamina narrow-elliptic to almost subulate; tip subacute; hairs all stiff, appressed, ± overlapping. Flowering branchlets short, not projecting above cushion; fls terminal, usually solitary. Calyx hairs uniform, stiff, appressed, overlapping. Corolla yellow fading to white, both colours often present on a cushion, 4-5 mm diam.; tube long-cylindric. Filaments short; anther tips just above scales.