Erect or prostrate perennial succulent herb 30–200(–300) cm high, glabrous, with fleshy tuberous or rhizomatous rootstock; stems succulent, to 2.5 cm across near the base, green, glabrous, sometimes glaucous.. Leaves succulent, sessile, broadly ovate to elliptic, obovate or oblanceolate, 6–26 cm long, 1–13 cm wide, cuneate to attenuate into a petioloid base, margins entire, often recurving, apex acute to rounded, shortly acuminate-apiculate, glabrous, often glaucous, pale green, usually variously variegated with red or purple and/or with whitish veins.. Capitula discoid, 1–10 in lax terminal bracteate cymes, nodding in bud, erect in flower; bracts ovate-elliptic to lanceolate; involucre cylindrical or urn-shaped, 15–31 mm long, up to 35 mm in diameter; bracts of calyculus obscure or absent; phyllaries 7–15, pale green, often glaucous, 15–31 mm long.. Ray florets absent; disc florets bright red or orange-red, corolla 12.5–28 mm long, glabrous, tube slightly expanded in upper two-thirds, lobes 2–8 mm long.. Achenes 5–9 mm long, glabrous; pappus 8–16.5 mm long.
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A glaucous succulent herb with erect stems up to 18 in. high from a tuberous rootstock
Florets deep purplish-red in a few large heads with pale involucres.
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