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Leaves up to c. 10.5(12) x 5 cm., narrowly ovate-elliptic in outline, runcinate-pinnatipartite, usually 3-lobed, sometimes 5-lobed or simple, acicular-denticulate to subentire, ± densely glandular-setose especially on the midribs and reticulation beneath, midrib narrowly-winged and petiole-like towards the base becoming auriculate; terminal lobe up to c. 5(7) cm. long, ovate-sagittate, acuminate-mucronate rarely obtuse; lateral lobes up to c. 2.5 x 1.5 cm., recurved oblong-lanceolate, rounded to acute-mucronate, sessile or somewhat asymmetrically and abruptly narrowed at the base.
Involucres up to c. 10 x 2 mm. and narrowly cylindrical at time of flowering, increasing to c. 14 x 3 mm. and becoming narrowly conical in fruiting capitula; phyllaries increasing somewhat abruptly in length towards the inside, narrowly lanceolate, obtuse-acute, glabrous or sparsely glandular setose, usually purplish outside, ± spirally twisted or with involute margins when dry.
Achenes pale-brown, up to c. 6 mm. long including a c. 2 mm. beak, narrowly ellipsoid and somewhat compressed, with conspicuously swollen ribs on the margins and 4–6 corky wing-like ribs on each face, glabrous or hispidulous; pappus several-seriate of equal white barbellate setae, c. 6.5 mm. long.
Stems up to 2(6) m. long, becoming leafless stramineous and often peeling-papyraceous below, ± densely leafy above with young growth tinged reddish-purple, ± densely glandular-setose or glabrescent.
Capitula numerous, somewhat aggregated when mature; stalks up to c. 4 cm. long, filiform, densely glandular setose to glabrescent, with 1-several bracteoles.
Florets c. 5 per capitulum; corollas c. 12 mm. long, tube slender and minutely pilose above, ligule yellow often purplish outside, c. 6 x 1.5 mm., lorate.
Synflorescences paniculate, mostly terminal; branches dichotomous, densely glandular-setose, or glabrescent, bracteate.
A creeping or scandent, somewhat viscid, short-lived perennial herb up to 1.5(3) m. high.
