Leptorhynchos squamatus

Variable perennial, 6–50 cm high; roots tufted; stems several from base, few-branched or simple above, ascending, glabrous to pilose, often cottony below capitula. Leaves linear, narrow-lanceolate to -oblanceolate, 1–5 cm long (basal leaves to 8 cm), 0.5–6 mm wide, acute, upper surface sparsely hirsute or glabrescent, lower surface sparsely to densely cottony, margins recurved; scarious bracts extending for up to c. 10 cm below capitula. Capitula broadly obconical to hemispherical, 10–15 mm diam.; outer involucral bracts elliptic to lanceolate, acute, scarious; inner bracts linear, herbaceous with slightly dilated, scarious, ciliate tip; florets yellow. Cypsela oblong, slightly contracted at apex, c. 2 mm long, smooth to papillose; pappus white, bristles of bisexual florets 6–17 (0–15 in female florets), barbellate with few longer barbs at tip, c. 4 mm long.