Perennial, 5–25(–40) cm high; roots fleshy and fibrous. Leaves linear, 5–25 cm long, 0.5–5 mm wide, entire or rarely with a few distant linear lobes. Capitula 20–30 mm diam.; peduncles to 25 cm long, usually c. as long as leaves; involucral bracts ovate to narrow-lanceolate, 2–17 mm long, acute. Florets 6–20; ligules 10–15 mm long, slightly exceeding involucre. Cypselas mostly 7–10 mm long, whitish, glabrous; pappus of 30–66 barbellate bristles, 7–12 mm long, hardly widened at base. Flowers mainly spring and summer.