Annuals or ?biennials to c. 1.8 m high, with rosette well-developed. Leaves to c. 40 cm long; stem leaves with l:w ratio c. 3–10, undivided to deeply lobed, thin to mildly coriaceous; base above mid-stem strongly stem-clasping, with auricles rounded basally, strongly downturned and arching back toward apex; margin usually with frequent teeth with spiny tips 1–3 mm long, not or slightly prickly; lobate leaves with up to 6 spreading to retrorse lobes per side; uppermost leaves ± lanceolate. Capitula several–many; involucre 8–12 mm long, c. 4–9 mm diam.; outer and intermediate bracts narrowly ovate or more often lanceolate. Florets: ligule c. 5–7 mm long, shorter than tube; style hairs dark. Achenes elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 2.8–4.2 mm long, 1.3–2.0 mm wide, strongly compressed, distinctly winged, with margin smooth or minutely scabridulous, without transverse wrinkles, generally all mid-to dark chocolate-brown. Pappus 7–9 mm long.
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