Herb 0.6–1.2(–2.4?) m high, erect, branching; stems hollow, ribbed, glandular-setose and araneose but glabrescent, with sinuate spiny wings from the leaf bases.. Leaves sessile, spiny, pinnatisect, the basal ones largest, obovate to oblanceolate in outline, 3–50 cm long, 1–17 cm wide, attenuate into a petioloid base in the basal leaves, basally decurrent and ± semi-amplexicaul in the distal leaves, with 2–6 pairs of triangulate-lobulate lobes, with spines terminating the lobes and lobules and shorter marginal spines in between, scattered-setose above, setose beneath on midrib and veins and thinly araneose over the blade.. Capitula subsessile, 3–8 together in subglobose terminal clusters; involucre 12–19 mm long; phyllaries many, imbricate in several series, lanceolate, 5–18 mm long, spiny-pungent, margins minutely to distinctly fimbriate or serrulate, arachnoid but rapidly glabrescent, the innermost longest; receptacle with setae ± 7 mm long.. Florets 29–52 per capitulum; corolla white or mauve to lilac-pink, tube 9.5–11 mm long, lobes 3.5–5 mm long.. Achenes broadly fusiform, 3.5–4 mm long, somewhat compressed, slightly curved, angled; pappus of many bristles 10–14 mm long, the longest expanded distally.
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