Woody herb or shrub 0.9-3 m tall, sometimes reaching 6 m by scrambling on other vegetation; stems shortly crispate-pubescent and glabrescent to almost glabrous.. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate or elliptic, 6.5-16 cm long, 2-6 cm wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margins serrate, apex shortly acuminate, shortly scattered crispate-pubescent or minutely hairy on veins beneath, otherwise almost glabrous; petiole 0.5-2 cm long.. Capitula numerous in terminal and upper axillary compound corymbiform cymes; stalks of individual capitula crispate-pubescent or shortly pubescent with brownish hairs; involucres campanulate-obconic to campanulate-hemispherical, 3-7 mm long, 3-3.5 mm in diameter at flowering time; phyllaries 3-4-seriate, ovate to narrowly ovate, acute to obtuse and (pungent-)apiculate, more or less pubescent, sometimes purple-tinged, the innermost 3.4-4.6 mm long, all dark centrally below apex and with pallid membranous margins.. Corolla mauve, pale purple or pale blue, 5-6.5 mm long, proximally with stalked glands, lobes 2-3 mm long.. Achenes 2.2-2.5 mm long, 5-6-ribbed; pappus of few caducous bristles 1.5-2 mm long.
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