Stems densely cobwebby-felted or glabrous. Leaves discolorous, abaxially grayish white and densely felted, adaxially green and glabrous. Lower cauline leaves sessile or shortly petiolate; leaf blade elliptic to oblanceolate, 7-12 × 2.5-3 cm, pinnately lobed or pinnatifid or lower ones undivided, base cuneate; segments (0-)3-5 pairs, semiorbicular, broadly ovate, or elliptic, with (2 or)3-5 triangular teeth each with lateral spinules and a 3.5-10 mm apical spine. Upper cauline leaves similar but smaller. Involucre glabrous. Outer and middle phyllaries tipped with a 2.5-4 mm spinule. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.