Herbs, erect, 50-90 cm tall. Root thick, up to more than 10 cm × 3-5 mm. Stem 3-7 mm thick, many branched apically. Leaves alternate; stipules absent; petiole 3-6 mm; leaf blade oblong to elliptic, very variable, 4-10 × 1-2 cm, sometimes light purple abaxially, green adaxially, base attenuate, apex rounded; lateral veins 6-10 pairs. Primary involucral leaves 3-5, similar to normal leaves, primary rays 3-5, 2-4 cm; cyathophylls 2 or 3, usually ovate, 2-2.5 × 1-1.5 cm, sessile. Cyathium sessile; in volucre campanulate, ca. 2.5 × 2.5-3.5 mm, lobes triangular-ovate, entire, pilose; glands 4, dark brown, reniform. Male flowers many, exserted from involucre. Female flower: ovary pedicel 3-5 mm, exserted from cup; ovary smooth; styles free; style arms 2-lobed. Capsule globose, 3.5-4 × ca. 4 mm, smooth. Seeds ovoid-globose, ca. 2.5 × 2 mm, gray or light brown, smooth, adaxially striate; caruncle present, very shortly stipitate. Fl. Apr-Jul. 2n = 20*.
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