Herbs 50-100 cm tall, perennial. Root turniplike. Stems solitary or few, erect, apically branched and glandular hairy. Basal leaves elliptic and basally attenuate into a long narrow petiole-like portion, 20-30 × 10-15 cm, pinnatipartite to pinnatisect and often lyrately so, margin dentate; lateral lobes 3-5 pairs, elliptic to rhombic, gradually smaller toward leaf base, apex obtuse to acute; terminal lobe triangular, ± irregularly rhombic, elliptic, or lanceolate, much larger than lateral lobes, base hastate to rounded, apex acute to obtuse. Lower and middle stem leaves shortly petiolate to sessile and clasping, similar to basal leaves but smaller; lateral lobes 3-7 pairs. Upper stem leaves sessile, less divided and smaller. Synflorescence racemiform or paniculiform, with few to several capitula. Capitula nodding before anthesis, with usually 25-35 florets; peduncle (1-)2-6(-10) cm. Involucre dark purplish green, broadly campanulate, 1.7-2.1 × 1-1.5 cm. Phyllaries glabrous or rarely glandular hispid, apex acute; outer phyllaries triangular-ovate to lanceolate. Florets blue to bluish purple. Achene 6-7 mm; body dark brown, ellipsoid, compressed, lateral ribs broadened, apex tapering into a pale 1-2 mm thick beak. Pappus double, outer hairs 0.2-0.3 mm, bristles ca. 8 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Nov. 2n = 16*.
Home