Annual herb, 0.2–1 m high, sparsely or densely branched; stems sparsely pilose.. Leaves sessile (rarely with a pseudopetiole to 2 cm long), (narrowly) elliptic or oblong, the distal much narrower than the more proximal, 3–13 cm long, 0.2–3 cm wide, base cuneate to attenuate or occasionally slightly auriculate, margins denticulate to dentate, apex obtuse and mucronate or acute, thinly scabridulose-pubescent on both surfaces.. Capitula 8–13 mm long, solitary on long almost leafless stalks, the whole plant forming a lax leafy inflorescence; phyllaries linear to lanceolate, the innermost purple, 2–8 mm long, acute to subulate, densely hispid.. Florets mauve or purple; outer florets few to many, tube filiform, 2.7–5 mm long, lobes 0.2–0.6 mm long, style 4–8 mm long with long purple branches; inner florets many, tube cylindric, 3.3–5.2 mm long, lobes 0.6–1.4 mm long, densely pilose, anthers 2–3 mm long, style 4.2–7 mm long.. Achenes ellipsoid, 0.6–1.5 mm long, densely pubescent; pappus of few (4–6) white bristles 3–4 mm long, but sometimes completely absent.. Fig. 67 (page 339).
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