Stout herb with simple to multicipital stock, sts with offset tufts from rhizomes, forming large patches; If-sheaths erect, densely imbricate and compacted forming a pseudo-stem. Lamina us. very coriac., ± (5)-10-15-(25) × 1-2.5 cm., ovate- to lanceolate-oblong to narrow-oblong in different forms. Upper surface glab., ± shining, sulcate, deep to pale green, midrib us. distinct; lower densely clad in fulvous to pale buff or occ. white soft felted tomentum; midrib distinct in basal half; obtuse to subacute, us. apiculate; margins entire, slightly recurved, or obscurely remotely crenate-dentate. Petiole hardly differentiated, rather thin, midrib and veins us. evident. Sheath softly laxly clad in deciduous ascending ± floccose white hairs, becoming glab. or nearly so, 10-25-(40) × 15-20 mm. Scape densely clad in white floccose hairs, stout, up to ± 25 cm. long; bracts mostly in upper half of scape, narrow-linear, clad in white floccose hairs, lamina up to 3-4 cm. long. Capitula linear-subulate, ± 3-5 cm. diam.; phyll. linear-subulate, up to 15 mm. long, glab. and indurated in basal third, upper portion densely clad without in white floccose hairs. Ray-florets ∞, ± 2 cm. long, tube slender, limb narrow-obovate to narrow-oblong. Disk-florets ∞, funnel-form, 7-9 mm. long; tube sts with scattered short hairs, teeth broad- to narrow-triangular. Achenes slender, cylindric, grooved, c. 5 mm. long, glab. or nearly so. Pappus-hairs white, up to ± 7 mm. long, distinctly barbellate.

Woody-based herb with branchlets arising from a simple or multicipital stock, usually hidden; living leaves in rosettes at the tips of branchlets, the whole forming a cushion or mat. Leaf sheaths densely imbricate and compacted, forming a pseudostem. Leaf lamina (3)-13-(30) × (0.3)-2-(4.5) cm, usually coriaceous, usually lanceolate-oblong but in some forms ovate or linear-oblong; upper surface shining and sulcate: lower surface densely covered in soft felted tomentum, midrib distinct; tip acute; margins entire and recurved, occasionally minutely toothed. Petiole thin with evident veins. Scape densely clad in floccose white hairs, stout, up to 30 cm long, bracteate, monocephalous. Ray florets 40- 100, ligulate, white. Disc florets 60-200, 5-9 mm long, funneliform: tube glabrous or with scattered uniseriate or biseriate hairs. Achene fusiform cylindric, grooved, 1.5-6.5 mm long, glabrous or glabrate; hairs if present bifid. Pappus hairs 5-9 mm long, barbellate.

Woody-based herb with branchlets arising from a simple or multicipital stock, usually hidden; living leaves in rosettes at the tips of branchlets, the whole forming a cushion or mat; leaf sheaths densely imbricate and compacted, forming a pseudostem. Leaf lamina (3)-13- (30) × (0.3)-2-(4.5)cm, usually coriaceous, usually lanceolate-oblong but in some forms ovate or linear-oblong; upper surfaces shining and sulcate; lower surface densely covered in soft felted tomentum, midrib distinct; tip acute, margins entire and recurved, occasionally minutely toothed. Petiole thin with evident veins. Sheath 10-25-(40) × 15-20 mm often clad in floecose white hairs and pigmented. Scape densely clad in floccose white hairs, stout, up to 30 cm long, bracteate, monocephalous. Ray florets 40-100, ligulate, white. Disc florets 60-200, 5-9 mm long, funneliform; tube glabrous or with scattered uniseriate or biseriate hairs. Achene cylindric-fusiform, grooved, 1.5-6.5 mm long, glabrous or glabrate; hairs if present bifid. Pappus hairs 5-9 mm long, barbellate.