'cotton head(ed) snow rabbit') is a rare snow lotus found only in the Himalayas including Nepal southwest China (in Sikkim in India and in Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan in China).

[3] Saussurea laniceps is herbaceous plant that grows 15–45 cm (5.9–17.7 in) tall.

[1] It is perennial and monocarpic: individual plants grow slowly (for 7–10 years or more) and die after flowering.

Reproductive plants produce a single enlarged inflorescence with 6–36 flower heads.

Saussurea laniceps is pollinated by two generalist bumblebee species, Bombus rufofasticatus and Bombus festivus, that appear to specialize on Saussurea laniceps when it is flowering.