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Achenes 2–2.5 mm. long, angular oblong-turbinate, obscurely 4–5-ribbed, setulose, with scattered large brown cells sometimes visible on the sides; pappus 2-seriate, the outer series of 10–15 brownish-purple narrowly lanceolate scales c. 1 mm. long, the inner of paleaceous setae fewer and slightly exceeding the outer scales.
Phyllaries many, glabrous, subulate-pungent, margins ± broadly hyaline and somewhat ciliolate; the outer phyllaries from c. 2 mm. long and subulate-lanceolate, the inner to c. 6 mm. long and lanceolate to oblong-ovate.
Leaves spirally arranged, decreasing in size on the upper stem, absent or few on the branches, sessile, mostly 1.5–4.5 cm. long, filiform, acute at the apex, margins ± revolute, glabrous.
Capitula many, solitary and terminal, or several at the ends of branches; capitula stalks 1–6 cm. long, slender, few-bracteate.
A slender erect perennial herb to c. 75 cm. tall, with annual stems from a small woody rootstock; roots numerous, thong-like.
Receptacle slightly dome-shaped, paleaceous; paleae 6–7 mm. long, narrowly lanceolate, acute-pungent at the apex, glabrous.
Stems 1-several, branching above, densely leafy, glabrous, or sparsely puberulous below.
Involucres 4–9 x 5–8 mm., spreading to c. 12 mm. wide, broadly turbinate-campanulate.
Corollas purple, 4–6 mm. long, narrowly funnel-shaped, glabrous.
