Woody herb or shrub 0.6-4.5 m tall, rather densely branching; stems closely and finely pubescent or tomentose.. Leaves alternate, petiolate, ovate or elliptic, 2.7-14.5 cm long, 1-6.5 cm wide, base (broadly) cuneate, margins serrate, apex shortly obtusely acuminate, finely shortly pubescent, especially beneath, more or less glabrescent, especially above; petiole 0.5-4 cm long.. Capitula numerous in terminal and upper axillary sometimes copious compound corymbiform cymes; stalks of individual capitula densely shortly ascending-pubescent; involucre obconic-cylindrical to campanulate-cylindrical, 3-7 mm long, 2-4 mm in diameter at flowering time; phyllaries 3-4-seriate, outer and median ovate, obtuse, sometimes more or less apiculate, the inner narrowly ovate, obtuse to acute and slightly pungent, shortly pectinate-fimbriate, sometimes purple-tinged, 4.2-5.5 mm long, all with paler membranous margins and darker green or sometimes purplish-tinged and pubescent in upper part towards the apex.. Corolla pale to deep mauve, lilac-blue or purple, 5-6.5 mm long, lobes 1.5-2 mm long.. Achenes cylindrical, slightly compressed, slightly curved, glabrous, with 5-7 rounded ribs, 2-2.3 mm long; pappus 1.2-1.8 mm long.. Fig. 33, p. 144.
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