Cespitose perennial from a branched caudex covered in old leaf bases. Stems erect to ascending, 4–15 cm. Herbage sericeous. Leaves mostly basal, petiolate, linear to oblanceolate, acute, 7–30 mm long, becoming sessile above. Inflorescence bracteate below. Flowers: calyx hispid, hirsute, 5–8 mm long in fruit; corolla 3–4 mm long. Nutlets usually solitary, asymmetric, muricate, ca. 3 mm long, sharp-margined; scar widened at the base (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).