Herbs (10-)25-150 cm tall. Stem erect, simple or branched, sparsely to densely crispate-pubescent near base, subglabrous in upper part, base with lacerate remains of old petioles. Leaves subglabrous to scabrid; pubescence often sparse, somewhat denser toward margin and along veins, composed of small appressed (ca. 0.2 × 0.03 mm) and larger patent (ca. 1 × 0.1 mm) multicellular hairs. Basal and lower stem leaves petiolate. Upper leaves sessile. Capitula 1 to many. Involucre 0.6-3 cm in diam. Phyllaries imbricate, in 4-10 rows; outer and middle phyllaries 2-11 × 1.5-5(-6) mm, without an apical spine or with a 0.2-2 mm spinule. Corolla purple to pink, rarely almost white, 2-3 cm. Achene brown to pale brown, cuneate-ellipsoid to obliquely cuneate, 4.5-6 mm, faintly ribbed. Pappus 7-11 mm. Fl. and fr. May-Oct.
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