Perennial herb, 1–2 m high, with tuberous rootstock; stem 4-angled, pilose to glabrous.. Leaves ovate in outline, simple to pinnately 3–5-lobed, 4–22 cm long, 3–15 cm wide, margins coarsely crenate to irregularly lobed, apex acute, hispid to glabrous; petiole to 50 mm long.. Capitula terminal, solitary or in few-headed cymes; involucre 8–17 mm long; outer phyllaries 6–12, green, pubescent and inner phyllaries 8–10, pilose, appearing longer in fruit; paleae 8–10 mm long.. Ray florets yellow or orange, neuter, 8–13, tube puberulous, rays 15–45 mm long, 5–10 mm wide; disc florets yellow.. Achenes brown, oblong, 9–11 mm long, flat, setulose; aristae 2, 1–3 mm long, usually with a few antrorse barbs near the base, otherwise nude.