Berkheya herbacea Druce

Herba perennis rhizomate lignoso (12-)20-50(-70) cm alta. Caulis erectus, in parte superiore parce ramosus vel rarius simplex, pilis glanduliferis minutis + dense obtectus, ceterum plerumque + araneosus, foliatus. Folia alterna, basalia + conferta, subrosulata, rigide membranacea vel subcoriacea, oblongi-lanceolata vel anguste obovata, in petiolum angustata, apice acuta vel subobtusa, petiolo incluso (6-)10-20 cm longa, (1.5-)2-4(-5.5) cm lata, margine plana, integerrima et inermia vel remote repandi-spinosi-denticulata spinis 1-2 mm longis vel evidenter sinuati-spinosi-dentata spinis usque ad 5 mm longis, supra glabra vel pilis hyalinis glanduliferis + sparsis obtecta, subtus albidi-tomentosa; folia caulina cito, rarius sensim minora, cr. 2-4 cm et denique cr. 1 cm longa, cordati-ovata vel ovati-lanceolata, sessilia, semiamplexicaulia, apice acuta, in spinam excurrentia, margine spinosi-dentata vel spinosi-ciliata spinis basi foliorum 4-5 mm longis apicem versus decrescentibus, inferiora indumento basalibus similia, sequentia pilis glanduliferis minutis ± dense obtecta, subtus ceterum leviter tomentosa, glabrescentia. Capitula in.apicibus ramorum inflorescentiam racemiformem formantia, (in speciminibus debilibus interdum unum capitulum in apice caulis simplicis), radiata, expansa 5-8 cm diam. Involucri squamae imbricatae, rigidae, partim pilis glanduliferis minutis sparse obtectae, ceterum glabrae, spinosi-acuminatae, extimae foliis supremis similes et in ea transgredientes, ovatae, cr. 4-5 mm latae, concavae, margine breviter denticulatae, sequentes sensim longiores, planiores et plus acuminatae, lanceolati-subulatae, cr. 3-4 mm latae et denique lineari-subulatae, 1.5-2 mm latae, margine brevissime denticulatae, interiores (intimis exceptis) cr. 20-40 mm longae, ceterae breviores. Margines alveolarum receptaculi integerrimae. Achaenia cr. 1-3 mm longa, pilis sericeis dense obtecta. Pappi squamae subbiseriatae, cr. 10+10 vel plures, lanceolatae, acutae, margine ciliatae, cr. 1.5-2.5 mm longae.