Herbs 75-120 cm tall, perennial. Stem solitary, erect, apically branched. Basal leaves usually withered at anthesis. Lower and middle stem leaves petiolate; petiole 2-13(-18) cm; leaf blade ovate-triangular, 6-12 × 4-7(-13) cm, both surfaces green and subglabrous with a few brown articulate hairs, base cordate, margin dentate, apex acuminate. Upper stem leaves subsessile; leaf blade ovate to narrowly ovate-elliptic, base cuneate, margin denticulate or entire, apex acuminate. Capitula numerous, in a paniculate or corymbiform synflorescence, pedunculate. Involucre narrowly campanulate, 0.8-1.2 cm in diam. Phyllaries in 4 or 5 rows, apically purple, conspicuously 3-5-veined, glabrous or sparsely arachnoid; outer phyllaries broadly ovate, 3-4 × 2-3 mm, patent to recurved, apex rounded and very shortly acuminate; middle phyllaries oblong, 4-8 × 2-3 mm, apex acuminate; inner phyllaries linear, 10-11 × 1-2 mm, apex obtuse and mucronate. Receptacle bristles 7-9 mm. Corolla dark purple, 1-1.2 cm, tube 4-5 mm, limb 6-7 mm, lobes 2-2.5 mm. Achene straw-colored, tinged purple, cylindric, 6-6.5 mm, glabrous. Pappus pale brown; outer bristles 2.5-5 mm, scabrid or almost smooth; inner bristles 8-10 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.
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