Stem erect, to 100 cm tall, 1-1.5 cm in diam. at base, proximally glabrous, distally umbellate-branched, white arachnoid-puberulent. Basal leaves petiolate; petiole 35-40 cm, upper winged, base narrowly sheathed; leaf blade oblong, 22-25 × 12-18 cm, abaxially shortly pilose, adaxially glabrous, pinnately veined, base cuneate, margin regularly dentate, apex subrounded. Middle stem leaves similar but smaller, petiolate; sheath enlarged, 8-10 cm, cymbiform-amplexicaul. Distal stem leaves sessile, lanceolate. Capitula numerous, small, in large, compound corymbs to 40 cm, branches numerous, densely shortly brown pilose; leaflike and supplementary bracts lanceolate or linear; peduncles short, densely shortly brown pilose. Involucre turbinate, 4-6 mm, mouth ca. 5 mm in diam., outside densely shortly brown pilose, base acute; phyllaries 5, in 2 rows, ovate-oblong, ca. 2 mm wide, margin broadly brown membranous, apex acute. Florets 5, all tubular, wholly extending from involucre, 5-6 mm; tube 1.5-2 mm. Achenes dark brown, cylindric, 4-6 mm. Pappus yellowish, as long as tubular corolla. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.