Decumbent herb 0.3–0.4 m high, much branched with ascending branches; branches narrowly winged, the wings not continuous, denticulate, both stem and wings puberulous and glandular.. Leaves lanceolate, 1–5 cm long, 0.2–1 cm wide, base decurrent, margins denticulate, apex acute to spinulose, hispidulous and glandular on both surfaces, also villous on midrib and margins.. Glomerules depressed-globose, 7–9 mm in diameter, enclosed by glomerule bracts of which especially the lowermost are large; peduncle 2–8 mm long, unwinged; receptacle flat; glomerule bracts broadly ovate (the outermost) to oblong, 5–6 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, mucronate with a spinose mucro, villous and glandular; capitula sessile, with 2 folded bracts 3.5–5 mm long, membranous and slightly puberulous distally.. Florets 1–3, mauve; female florets absent or 1–2, filiform, tube 2.2–2.8 mm long, lobes < 0.1 mm long, style 2.4–3 mm long, shortly bifid; inner floret 1, tube cylindrical or widening slightly, 2.7–3.2 mm long, lobes 0.2–0.4 mm long, anthers± 2.5 mm long; style 3.8–4.3 mm long, distally papillose, shortly bifid.. Achenes of outer florets cylindrical, 0.7–1 mm long, puberulous, of inner florets 0.7–1 mm long, glabrous and glandular.
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