Herbs, perennial, 15-80(-150) cm tall. Leaves of variable position, alternate between base and median part of stem, basally clustered, or alternate above base of stem, especially in tiny individuals; petiole 4-18 cm, wingless; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or elliptic, 6-20 × 2-10 cm, subleathery, palmate-pinnate veined, commonly both surfaces glabrous, sometimes adaxially sparsely strigose, base attenuate or cuneate, margin callose-denticulate, apex acuminate. Capitula shortly pedunculate, arranged in panicles, 3-flowered; involucre cylindric, 2-4 mm in diam.; phyllaries (5 or)6-seriate, papery, abaxially glabrous, rarely apically sparsely pilose, outer phyllaries ovate, 1-2 mm, inner linear, 7-8.5 mm. Florets bisexual, chasmogamous and cleistogamous (at different seasons). Chasmogamous floret corollas tubular, 8-10 mm, deeply 5-lobed, lobes oblong, unequal, anther appendages rounded. Achenes fusiform, ca. 5 mm; pappus white, dark white, or light red, 5-7 mm. Fl. Apr-Oct. Cleistogamous floret corollas closed, tubular, minutely 5-lobed, 2.8-7 mm, hidden in pappus. Achenes fusiform, ca. 4 mm; pappus yellow-white, 5-7.5 mm. Fl. Apr-Oct.
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