Berkheya speciosa subsp. speciosa (Dc.) O.Hoffm.

Perennial herb, up to 1 m high. Stems not winged. Leaves alternate, mostly basal and only a few along stem; blade broadly elliptic to broadly ovate, up to 300 x 250 mm, apex rounded or subacute to acute, base rounded, truncate or cordate, margins mostly entire, rarely shallowly sinuate or shallowly and broadly dentate, with cilia up to 2 mm long, upper surface harshly pubescent, lower surface white-felted; few upper leaves much smaller, sessile; basal leaves with petiole 50-350 mm long, spinose-ciliate. Heads radiate, up to ± 70 mm in diameter, usually in subcorymbs, pedunculate. Involucral bracts connate at base, linear, acuminate, up to 2 mm wide, apex and margins spiny, minutely glandular, sometimes cobwebby as well on backs. Flowers: ray and disc florets bright yellow; Dec. Fruit with cypsela glabrous or minutely pubescent, turbinate, ± 2 mm long. Pappus of scales, biseriate, up to 3 mm long, narrowly obovate, obtuse.