Perennial 6–60 cm. Leaves oblanceolate, 5–35 cm long, entire, dentate, or with pinnate, linear lobes. Herbage glabrous to sparsely villous. Involucre 1–3 cm high; phyllaries lanceolate, in 2 to 4 indistinct series, green or purple-spotted, glabrate to villous. Rays orange to pink; ligules 6–12 mm long. Pappus 6–15 mm long. Achene body 5–9 mm long; beak 3–7 mm long
(Lesica 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Our plants are varieties
aurantiaca or
carnea (Rydb.) Lesica.