Stem erect, to 100 cm tall, ca. 1 cm in diam. at base, white pubescent. Rosette of leaves not seen. Proximal stem leaves petiolate; petiole 5.5-10 cm, narrowly winged, base sheathed; leaf blade ovate-cordate, 13-16.5 × 11-13 cm, abaxially grayish white pubescent, adaxially glabrous, pinnately veined, base cordate, margin regularly obtusely crenate, apex rounded. Distal stem leaves sessile or shortly petiolate, ovate to narrowly ovate, to 7 × 4 cm, apex caudate-acuminate. Synflorescence racemose, to 24 cm; leaflike and supplementary bracts linear, to 2 cm; peduncles 5-8 mm, shortly white pilose. Capitula numerous. Involucre shallowly campanulate, 5-6 × 6-8 mm, outside white pubescent; phyllaries ca. 8, in 2 rows, black, oblong or lanceolate, 2-3 mm wide, apex acute or acuminate. Florets all tubular; outer florets female, 1-3(or 4), narrowly cylindric, shorter than central florets, 4-5 mm, corolla deeply 2-divided, labiate, one of lobes sometimes shorter or 2-divided. Central florets numerous, yellow, higher than involucre, ca. 6 mm; tube ca. 2 mm. Pappus pale yellow, as long as tubular corolla. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.