Herb up to ± 3 dm. tall, tufted, lf-sheaths densely imbricate around stem. Lamina coriac., ± 9-12 × 2.5-3 cm., elliptic to elliptic-oblong; upper surface green, glab. or very nearly so, midrib and main lateral veins ± evident; lower surface very densely clad in soft velvety appressed ferruginous tomentum, midrib purple, prominent. Apex obtuse; margins very densely ciliate, obliquely narrowed to dark purple petiole ± 4 cm. long. Sheath ± 5 cm. long, purplish; margins and inner surface clad in appressed white hairs, forming a deciduous pellicle. Scape ± 20 cm. long, densely clad in ferruginous hairs; bracts few, linear, obtuse, up to c. 3 cm. long, tomentum as in laminae. Capitula ± 5 cm. diam.; phyll. linear, ± 15 mm. long, outer surface and margins with pale brownish hairs. Ray-florets c. 2.5 cm. long, limb linear to linear-lanceolate, 3-toothed. Disk-florets funnelform, tube ± 4 mm. long, teeth up to 3 mm. long. Achenes (seen only in immature state) compressed-cylindric, ± 4 mm. long, glab., lightly ribbed. Pappus-hairs white, to 7 mm. long, slender, minutely barbellate.
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