Herb with lvs in dense tufts arising from stout simple to branched stock, pseudo-stem ± 3-4 cm. long. Lamina linear, becoming subpatent, coriac., ± rigid, (4)-5-10-(20) cm. × 2-3-(4) mm.; upper surface ± canaliculate, clad in greyish closely appressed pellicle; lower ± densely clad in appressed to subfloccose white tomentum, midrib stout, rather prominent. Margins narrowed gradually to acute long-apiculate apex, strongly to slightly recurved, entire; narrowed to sheath or with very short petiole. Sheath ± 3-5 cm. × 3-6 mm., thin, clad in ± deciduous pellicle, floccose on margins. Scape rather slender, stiff, ± 6-15 cm. long, floccose; bracts ∞, ascending, linear to linear-lanceolate, lower up to c. 4 cm. long. Capitula 25-30-(40) mm. diam.; phyll. up to c. 10 mm. long, delicate, linear-subulate, pale in lower, purplish in upper half, margins and apical portion ciliolate, midvein us. indistinct. Ray-florets c. 10 mm. long, limb narrow spathulate-oblong, obtuse to subacute. Disk-florets c. 5 mm. long, narrow-funnelform, teeth broadly ovate-triangular. Achenes c. 2 mm. long, compressed-cylindric, ribs clad in short white ascending to subappressed hairs. Pappus-hairs very unequal, up to c. 5 mm. long, slender, white, hardly barbellate.

2n = 108

Woody-based perennial herb arising from a multicipital stock and forming small to large mats up to 1 m diameter. Leaf lamina linear, rigid, often curved; current season's leaves soon becoming reflexed; 4-12 cm × 1.3-3.8 mm; upper surface corrugated, clad in persistent silvery pellicle; lower surface clad in cream appressed tomentum; margins entire, recurved but not right to midrib; tip acute and usually acicular with short hairs. Leaf sheath up to 3.5(-5) cm long, membranous, greenish or occasionally reddish, clad in a pellicle. Scape 10-15 cm × c. 3 mm; bracts numerous, up to 3.5 cm long, densely white tomentose. Involucral bracts erect, linear-subulate, acute, up to 15 mm long, silvery- grey with white arachnoid hairs, venation simple. Receptacle obconic, surface alveolate. Ray florets up to 2 cm long, limb narrow, linear-lanceolate and glabrous, tube narrow and glabrous. In disc florets, tube gradually narrowed from apex to base, glabrous; stamen tip acute, anther tails short; style bifid, arms differentiated into a lower paralled- sided papillose portion about equal to the triangular appendage which bears short collecting hairs. Pappus bristles unequal, c. 30-35 in number, 5-6 mm long with closely spaced, short teeth. Achenes 3-4.5 mm long, fusiform, ribbed, glabrous.