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Leaves subsessile, patent in whorls of 3,2–5 x 0.5–2 cm., elliptic-oblong to narrowly ovate or lanceolate, apex acute mucronate, base rounded to broadly cuneate or somewhat subcordate, margins serrate-dentate with callose-tipped teeth; at first pilose on both surfaces soon glabrescent or scabridulous, glandular punctate, lower surface paler with ± prominent nervation.
Phyllaries numerous, many-seriate, somewhat cartilaginous with narrow membranous or subhyaline margins, puberulous to glabrescent, margins ± ciliate; the outer from c. 2 mm. long, the inner to c. 9 mm. long, ovate to broadly oblong-rotund to lorate in the innermost, shortly acuminate-cuspidate to tapering acuminate with ± squarrose purple pungent tips.
Achenes stramineous, 2–2.2 mm. long, narrowly barrel-shaped, bluntly 5-angled, faintly 1–2 dark-grooved on the faces, truncate with a shallow rimmed depression at the apex, truncate at the base, smooth and ± polished; pappus of few very caducous barbellate setae 1–2 mm. long.
An erect perennial herb with annual stems 22–75(100) cm. tall from a small woody rootstock; rootcrowns and stem base with pale-brown lanate tufts, roots numerous thong-like.
Capitula small, few to numerous, 1 or 3–7 corymbiformly cymose on 3-whorled stout ± ascending branches; stalks 0–30 mm. long, often subtended by small leaf-like bracts.
Corollas purple, 5–9 mm. long, narrowly tubular widening upwards; lobes to c. 4 mm. long, linear, sparsely glandular-hairy or glabrous.
Stems 1-several, leafy, branching above, usually striately-ribbed, pilose-pubescent; the hairs flagelliform.
Involucres 5–10 x 6–12 mm., campanulate, often broadly so.
