Annual herb, 0.1-0.6 m high. Stems short, few to many branched from near base, sometimes apparently acaulescent with rosulate, basal leaves. Leaves basal, alternate upwards; blade elliptic-obovate in outline, margins lyrate-pinnatifid or deeply sinuate-dentate to pinnatilobate, apex obtuse, base tapering into petiole-like base, grey-tomentose on both sides; stem leaves sessile, smaller. Heads radiate, solitary, terminal, pedunculate. Involucral bracts in many rows, outer bracts white-tomentose, apex oblongly elongated, shortly reflexed. Flowers: ray florets female, fertile, limb white above with yellow basal band, coppery or purplish below; disc florets many, outer florets bisexual, inner florets male or sterile; corolla mauve-purple; Sep.-Mar. (May, Jun.). Fruit with cypsela obconical, white-woolly on adaxial side, with 2 linear-obovate cavities, basal ring of hairs longer than cypsela. Pappus scales in 2 unequal rows, inner scales much longer than outer scales, apex rounded-obtuse, longer than cypsela.
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