Shrublet, up to 1.5 m tall, young stems densely cobwebbed or felted, or glandular-haired, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, 2-or 3-pinnatisect, mostly 40-80 mm long, glabrescent above, cobwebbed or felted beneath, lobes subulate and spine-tipped, with spines 2-3 mm long, margins revolute. Flowerheads on very short peduncles in upper axils, discoid, yellow, 10-25 mm diam.; involucral bracts erect-spreading, connate into a distinct cup, outer short and ovate, median lanceolate with spiny margins, 10-17 mm long. Pappus scales ± 20, subulate, fimbriate, 2-3 mm long.