Stems erect or ascending, stout, 40–150 cm. Leaf faces glabrous or nearly so. Heads usually short-pedunculate in erect, racemiform arrays or sometimes long-pedunculate in openly corymbiform arrays. Involucres 3–5 cm, glabrous or thinly arachnoid tomentose, individual phyllaries evident. Phyllaries green or purplish-tinged; outer pectinately spiny 1/2 their length with many lateral spines; apical spines stout. Corollas purple, 24–33 mm, tubes 3.5–7 mm, throats 11–14 mm, lobes 8–12.5 mm. Pappi 16–18 mm. 2n = 34 (as C. clokeyi).
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