Herb 75-120 cm tall; stems erect, much-branched, densely appressed-hairy.. Leaves alternate, (narrowly) ovate or elliptic, 1.3-6 cm long, 0.4-1.8 cm wide, base cuneate or attenuate into a petioloid base, in distal leaves more or less sessile and somewhat semi-amplexicaul at the base, margins subentire, apex subacute to rounded, apiculate, thinly pubescent above, white-tomentose beneath.. Capitula in lax divaricating terminal and upper axillary corymbiform cymes; stalks of individual capitula densely appressed-pubescent; involucre shortly cylindrical, 3-4.5 mm in diameter at flowering time; phyllaries 3-seriate, all narrowly ovate, 5-8 mm long, acute, pungent, darker green centrally, finely pubescent with white hairs, margins pallid, membranous, finely fimbriate-pectinate, often purple-tinged especially on margins.. Corolla purple or purple-mauve, 5.5-6.5 mm long, lobes 2-2.7 mm long, shortly stiffly hairy at the apex.. Achenes shortly cylindrical or broadly obovoid, 1.1-1.3 mm long, obtusely 4-6-ribbed, smooth, glandular and finely ascending-hairy between the ribs; pappus absent.
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