Loosely rosetted to ascending, rhizomatous herb to c. 15(–30) cm high. Leaves usually crowded at base (rarely truly rosetted), passing gradually into bracts of unbranched peduncle, spathulate or obovate, usually with long petiole-like bases, 2–10 cm long, 4–13 mm wide, entire or with a few subapical teeth, sparsely hirsute with non-glandular hairs to 0.5 mm long, and scattered sessile glands; apex obtuse. Capitula turbinate; involucral bracts linear, 5–8 mm long, ciliate; ray florets 1–3-seriate, ligules white or tipped mauve to crimson, 3–4 mm long, more or less erect, exceeding involucre by 2–3 mm. Cypselas flattened, c. oblong, 2.5–3 mm long, glabrous; pappus bristles c. uniform, 3.5–5 mm long. Flowers Jan.–Feb.
EGU, HNF, VAlp. Occurs in bogs, wet heathland and at margins of swamps, throughout the Snowfields.
