A perennial herb with long taproots, woody caudices, and tufts of basal leaves. Short leafy peduncles are only 12-15 cm tall. Due to the short leafy stems, the white flowers appear to float above the cluster of leaves, accentuating the plant’s low stature. The flower of A. humilis usually has 4 petals. The genus name is based on the bear paw-like appearance of the shaggy villous leaves while the leaves of are only slightly lannate with deeply 3-toothed leaves at the apex.