Annual or biennial to 0.8 m high. Stems with dense persistent arachnoid hairs; wings present. Cauline leaves lanceolate to spathulate, dentate to pinnatifid (lower) or entire (upper), grey above and below, with dense scabrid and arachnoid hairs; sessile glands present. Capitula solitary, pedunculate; involucre broadly ovoid to globose, 17–20 mm diam. at anthesis; median involucral bracts elliptic, 8–10 mm long, 4–5.5 mm wide, with sparse to dense arachnoid hairs; appendages comprising a straight, patent, pungent, terminal spine 8–13 mm long with 3 or 4 pairs of lateral spinules, the distal pair about halfway along spine. Florets greenish yellow; inner (fertile) florets with tube 15–16 mm long, glandular, and lobes 2.5–3 mm long; sterile florets shorter than fertile florets. Anthers 5.5–6 mm long. Achenes cylindrical, 4–4.5 mm long, sparsely hairy, brown and yellow in streaks. Longest pappus bristles 6–7.5 mm long, dark brown.
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