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Phyllaries numerous, greenish-stramineous, stiffly chartaceous, araneose-ciliate becoming pectinate-ciliate on the margins otherwise glabrous; the outer 6–9 series stiffly diverging-ascending, the outermost 2–4 series patent to reflexed, increasing from c. 6 mm. long outside to c. 30 mm. long inside, lanceolate-subulate, flat and broadly pale scarious-winged in lower part, long pungent-acuminate above with the margins inrolled; the innermost 2–3 series of phyllaries shorter, lorate or narrowly oblong, cuspidate, white scarious.
Leaves discolorous, sessile; lower-stem leaves 12–27 x (1.5)2–6 cm., oblanceolate, broadest above the middle and tapering-attenuate to the base; upper-stem leaves fewer, becoming linear and shorter; apices subobtuse to acute, bases narrow semi-amplexicaul; margins sparsely serrulate or slightly revolute; green and glabrous on upper surface, white araneose-lanate beneath (the indumentum sometimes peeling off); venation finely reticulate and prominent on both surfaces although obscured by the indumentum below.
Corollas yellowish, c. 10 mm. long, infundibuliform; lobes c. 5 mm. long, linear, erect; achenes to c. 4 mm. long, turbinate, densely long-ascending hispid; pappus copious, several seriate, of plumose setae c. 9 mm. long, shorter on the outside, seta bristles c. 1 mm. long.
Capitula few to numerous, spicately arranged, 1–2 sessile in upper leaf axils with others somewhat clustered at the stem apex, or less often shortly stalked and subpaniculate.
Stems annual, usually solitary, simple, leafy with the largest leaves somewhat clustered on the lower stem, closely appressed white araneose-lanate to glabrescent.
A slender, erect perennial herb, to c. 1 m. tall from a small woody rootstock; roots numerous, thong-like.
A perennial herb with pithy stems from a few inches to 4 ft. high from a woody stock
Involucres mostly 20–30 x 16–30 mm., spreading to c. 40 mm., broadly obconic.
Florets yellowish in heads 1-1/2 in. long
The leaves often tinged wine-red