Herbs, perennial, 80-120(-150) cm tall, gray pubescent or glabrescent. Leaves pubescent and glabrescent adaxially, densely yellowish pubescent and gray arachnoid tomentose, persistent. Lowermost leaves long petiolate; leaf blade 2-pinnatisect; segments 4 pairs. Middle stem leaves: petiole 1-1.5 cm; leaf blade ovate or elliptic-ovate, 4-5 × 3.5-5 cm, 2-pinnatisect; segments 4(or 5) pairs, ovate, 15-25 × 5-15 mm; lobules 3 or 4 pairs, elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 10-15(-2) × 1.5-2.5 mm. Uppermost leaves 1-or 2-pinnatisect; leaflike bracts pinnatisect. Capitula in broad, much-branched panicles, oblong or oblong-ovoid, 1.5-2 mm in diam. Marginal female florets 3-5. Disk florets 4-8, bisexual. Achenes oblong or ellipsoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.