Perennial herb, 25–40 cm high; stems branched from base, terete, glabrous or sparsely pilose.. Leaves alternate, sessile, linear or narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–8 cm long, 0.2–0.8 cm wide, base auriculate, margins dentate or denticulate, apex obtuse or apiculate, sparsely pubescent to almost glabrous.. Capitula solitary or in lax axillary and terminal corymbs, 5–9 mm long; stalks of individual capitula 1.3–4.5 cm long, sparsely pilose; phyllaries purplish near the apex, herbaceous, linear, 1–7 mm long, 0.3–0.8 mm wide, acute, with scarious margins, pubescent on the midrib; receptacle flat to toroid, glabrous.. Florets purple or pale mauve; outer florets many, tube filiform, 3–3.3 mm long, glabrous, with 2–3 minute lobes; style 3.2–3.5 mm long, with glabrous branches; inner florets 20–30, tube 3–4 mm long, slightly widening from the base, with 5 pubescent lobes 0.3–0.5 mm long, anthers 1.9–2 mm long, with short tails style 4–4.5 mm long, with hairy branches.. Achenes oblong, 0.7–0.8 mm long, pubescent; pappus of 4–7 white bristles, 2.5–4 mm long.
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