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Outer phyllaries 6–16 mm. long, lanceolate-lorate, fimbriate-denticulate on the margins, acute or with a narrow attenuate or caudate appendage-like apical portion 2–9 mm. long; inner phyllaries up to c. 14 mm. long, tapering-lorate, grading into similar but shorter receptacular paleae; margins narrowly membranous, often purple and fimbriate-denticulate above, with linear teeth to c. 1 mm. long, sometimes apex expanded-ovate and appendage-like.
Ray-florets deep-red, up to c. 17 mm. long, with exserted stamens and style but rudimentary ovary; rays up to c. 12 mm. long, widening to apex, c. 2.5 mm. at broadest part, 3-fid with lobes 0.5–2(4) mm. long, inner lip composed of 2 linear lobes c. 7 mm. long, pappus of a few caducous setae 5–6 mm. long.
Leaves discolorous, sessile, mostly 7–15 x 0.4–1.5(2.5) cm., linear-elliptic, tapering-acute to the apex, narrowly cuneate and semi-amplexicaul below, margins minutely sharply serrulate ± revolute; upper surface green, glabrous, lower surface appressed greyish araneose-lanate.
Achenes 5–7 x 2 mm., subcylindric, narrowly 5-ribbed, minutely puberulous; carpopodium swollen, exceeding the ribs in thickness; pappus of caducous barbellate setae c. 8 mm. long.
Stems annual, usually single, simple, or branching above, leafy with leaves ± crowded in the upper part, whitish-grey araneose-lanate with fine matted-appressed hairs.
Disk-florets deep-red, 8–14 mm. long, narrowly tubular below with a deeply lobed campanulate limb c. 5 mm. long, lobes c. 4 mm. long linear, ovary fertile.
Involucres mostly 10–14 x 9–15 mm., broadly campanulate, truncate at the base, araneose-lanate to glabrescent.
An erect slender suffrutex 14–60 cm. tall, from a woody rootstock with numerous spreading thong-like roots.
Receptacular paleae flat, to c. T2 mm. long, lorate, reddish-purple-tipped and denticulate about the apex.
Capitula solitary and terminal on the stem, less often 2–5 terminal on branches.
