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Phyllaries numerous, imbricate, ± cartilaginous, glabrous with large dark gland-pits outside towards the apex, finely serrate-ciliate on the margins above, the apices pungent; the outermost phyllaries c. 2 mm. long and scale-like, progressively longer towards the inside becoming lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, the innermost c. 12 mm. long.
Achenes 2–3 mm. long, oblong-turbinate, obscurely 6–8 narrowly-ribbed, densely strigose; outer pappus of short narrow deeply fimbriate scales c. 0.5 mm. long; inner pappus of copious white barbellate setae c. 8 mm. long.
Stems annual, 1-several, becoming woody below, usually dark-purple, strict, simple and densely leafy, scattered whitish patent-pilose often also with short purple T-shaped hairs, or glabrescent.
Capitula numerous, sessile, congested in a very dense terminal, subglobose to ellipsoid-cylindric spike.
A tough harsh perennial herb up to c. 1 m. tall, from a large woody rootstock.
Corollas purple, c. 13 mm. long, narrowly tubular widening slightly above.
Involucre up to 15(20) mm. long, obconic or narrowly campanulate.
