Berkheya rhapontica subsp. rhapontica (Dc.) Hutch. & Burtt Davy

Perennial herb, up to 1.2 m high. Stems erect, winged entirely. Leaves alternate, crowded in a basal rosette and scattered along stem; blade of lower leaves elliptic, broadly obovate, obovate-oblong to subrotund, up to 180(-300) x 90-100 mm, apex acute to obtuse or rounded, base narrowed petiole-like, margins entire, very shallowly sinuate-lobate or dentate, softly spiny and ciliate, upper surface harshly pubescent, lower surface densely white-felted; upper leaves sessile, much smaller, oblong or linear-oblong, apex acute, base decurrent on stems. Heads radiate, ± 25-40 mm in diameter, 6-10 racemosely or subracemosely arranged, rarely solitary; peduncles 10-30(-100) mm long. Involucral bracts connate at base, linear, acute, up to 2 mm wide, tips and margins of particularly the outer bracts spiny, tomentose on the backs. Flowers: ray and disc florets bright yellow; Nov., Feb. Fruit with cypsela turbinate, villous, 1.5-2.0 mm long. Pappus of scales, biseriate, up to 1 mm long, ± oblong, obtuse or subacute.