Herbs 12-17 cm tall. Petiole green or pinkish, arachnoid, unwinged or narrowly winged in outer leaves, midvein pinkish; leaf blade ± light green, ± oblong-linear, 5-11 × 1-2 cm, sparsely arachnoid, usually pinnatisect but outer leaves usually shallowly pinnatilobed; lateral lobes 4-7 pairs, narrowly triangular to ± linear-triangular, ± patent to subrecurved, margin entire or on distal side with a single tooth near base; interlobes ± narrow, margin entire; terminal lobe ± triangular, margin ± entire, apex subobtuse. Scapes purplish green, equaling leaves, arachnoid. Capitulum 2.5-3 cm wide. Involucre 0.9-1.1 cm wide, base rounded Outer phyllaries usually 15-22, ± not imbricate, narrowly lanceolate to ± linear-lanceolate, outermost ones 7-9 × 1.3-2.5 mm and ca. 2/3 as long as inner ones, appressed to ± loosely appressed, middle part blackish green, border evident, paler, greenish white to whitish and often suffused purplish near apex, membranous, and 0.3-0.5 mm wide, margin ciliate, apex with large blackish horn; inner phyllaries 1.3-1.7 cm, apex with a blackish horn. Ligules yellow; outer ligules ± flat, outside striped gray; inner ligules with purple long apical teeth. Stigmas pale greenish yellow (almost yellow). Anthers polliniferous; pollen grains irregular in size. Achene initially pale ochraceous brown then getting darker to become deep cinnamon brown or brown when fully ripe, 5-5.6 × 1.2-1.4 mm; body densely spinulose-squamulose in upper half, subabruptly narrowing into a subcylindric 1-1.2 × ca. 0.4 mm cone; beak 5-6 mm. Pappus yellowish white, 5-6 mm. Fl. summer. Agamosperm.
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