Annual herb. Stems erect, sparsely branched, longitudinally striate; wings absent. Leaves oblong, pinnatilobed, with numerous spine-tipped lobes and lobules. Uppermost leaves pinnatisect, immediately below capitula. Capitula sessile to very shortly pedunculate, homogamous. Involucral bracts somewhat spine-tipped; margins entire. Receptacle not alveolate, densely setose. Corolla pink or purple; tube filiform; lobes unequal, linear. Anthers very shortly sagittate at base; filaments free, pilose. Style branches connate, erect. Achenes compressed-obovoid, smooth, glabrous; apical rim virtually absent; carpopodium sub-basal. Pappus deciduous, of numerous plumose, capillary bristles, basally united in a ring.
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