Herbs, perennial, 100-150 cm tall, pubescent, sometimes glabrescent. Lower and middle stem leaves: petiole 3-10 mm; leaf blade ovate or elliptic-ovate, (7-)14-18(-20) × (5-)6-10 cm, abaxially densely to sparsely grayish green arachnoid pubescent, adaxially green with sparse T-shaped hairs, (1 or)2-pinnatipartite to pinnatisect; segments 3-5 pairs, elliptic or oblong, 4-6 × 2-3.5 cm, sharply acute; lobules 3 or 4 pairs, base attenuate, 2-or 3-serrate at margin; rachis winged. Uppermost leaves and leaflike bracts pinnatipartite or-cleft. Synflorescence a narrow to broad panicle, 10-25 × 5-10 cm; branches obliquely patent to ascending, up to 25 cm. Capitula ± remote to approximate near branch apices, shortly pedunculate to sessile. Involucre ellipsoid or ellipsoid-ovoid, 2-3 mm in diam. Marginal female florets 3 or 4[-8]. Disk florets 7-9(-12), bisexual. Achenes obovoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 16.