Herbs 45-80 cm tall, perennial. Stem solitary, erect, branched apically, glabrous. Lower stem leaves with petiole 6-11 cm, narrowly winged, ± clasping; leaf blade narrowly ovate, not divided or lyrately or non-lyrately pinnatisect; lateral lobes if present 1 or 2 pairs, obliquely ovate to oblong, recurved; terminal lobe 6.5-8.5 × 3.5-4.5 cm, base cordate, margin entire or shallowly sinuate-dentate, apex acute to obtuse. Middle and upper stem leaves similar to lower leaves but with broadly winged, sagittately to auriculately clasping petiole-like basal portion or sessile; lateral lobes 2-4 pairs, ca. 3 × 0.7-1 cm; terminal lobe triangular-hastate to lanceolate. Synflorescence paniculiform, with numerous capitula. Capitula with ca. 5 florets. Involucre narrowly cylindric, 7-9 × ca. 2 mm. Phyllaries green, glabrous; outer phyllaries triangular-ovate to linear-lanceolate, longest ca. 1/2 as long as inner phyllaries; inner phyllaries 5. Florets bluish purple. Achene ca. 4 mm; body ellipsoid, compressed, with broad lateral ribs; beak ca. 1 mm and thick. Pappus double, outer hairs 0.1-0.2 mm, bristles ca. 5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.
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