Herbs, erect, 0.8-1.2 m tall, rootstock fibrous. Stems terete, striate, usually unbranched except in synflorescence, velutinous particularly on younger parts, terete. Leaves subsessile or shortly petiolate, oblong-lanceolate, 11-13 × 3-5 cm, velutinous, hairs with prominent base adaxially, ± villous abaxially, base attenuate, margin distantly serrate with mucronate teeth, apex acute; veins 5 or 6 pairs. Capitula 10-12 × 6-8 mm, in terminal and axillary panicles; peduncles to 20 mm. Involucre globose-campanulate; phyllaries in 2-4 series, sometimes purple tipped, outer ones linear-lanceolate, 3-4 × 0.5-0.6 mm, margins ciliate. Receptacle slightly convex, 4-5 mm in diam., alveolate, remotely pilose. Corollas yellowish, tubular; marginal florets filiform, 7-8 mm, with 3-5 lobes; central florets 8-9 mm, with 5 triangular lobes, lobes with sessile glands and multicellular hairs. Achenes pale brown, oblong, sparsely hirsute, ribbed. Pappus white, 5-6 mm. Fl. Aug-Apr.