Herbs, annual or biennial, 80-150 cm tall, much branched, yellowish or gray-yellow puberulent. Basal and lower stem leaves: petiole 2-4 cm; leaf blade ovate-orbicular, (2 or)3-pinnatipartite. Middle stem leaves: leaf blade ovate or elliptic-ovate, 10-12 × 6-8 cm, 2-or 3-pinnatisect; segments 3 or 4 pairs, 4-5 × 2-3 cm, deeply pectinately serrate; teeth 3 or 4 pairs, more than 3 mm wide. Uppermost leaves 1-or 2-pinnatipartite; leaflike bracts elliptic-lanceolate, 3-5-lobed or entire. Synflorescence a broad panicle. Capitula pedunculate, nodding. Involucre globose or hemispheric, 5-7 mm in diam.; phyllaries puberulent. Marginal female florets 15-20. Disk florets 80-150, bisexual. Achenes obovoid or ellipsoid. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.