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Perennials, 20–50 cm, scabrous. Stems several, diffusely much-branched distally, finely tomentose, minutely resin-gland-dotted. Leaves finely tomentose, minutely resin-gland-dotted; basal and proximal cauline petiolate, often absent at anthesis, blades 10–15 cm, margins 1–2 times pinnately divided into linear segments; mid and distal cauline sessile, smaller, pinnately divided or simple. Heads disciform, in paniculiform arrays, sessile or short-pedunculate. Involucres narrowly ovoid or cylindric, 7–8 × 3–5 mm, falling at maturity with enclosed cypselae. Principal phyllaries: bodies pale green or stramineous, ovate to lanceolate, sometimes purple-tinged, glabrous or finely tomentose, sparsely resin-gland-dotted, margins scarious, appendages spreading, fringed with slender stramineous spines, each tipped by spreading to reflexed spine 1–3 mm. Inner phyllaries lanceolate, ± acute. Florets 10–14(–16); corollas pink or pale purple, those of sterile florets very slender, 3-lobed, linear, not exceeding disc corollas, those of fertile florets 7–9 mm. Cypselae light brown or stramineous, 2.5–3.5 mm, glabrous; pappi of white bristles 1–2.5 mm or sometimes very reduced. 2n = 36.
