Perennial herb 0.9-3 m tall; stems finely tomentose with short T-shaped and asymmetrically T-shaped hairs.. Leaves sessile, elliptic or oblanceolate-elliptic, 6-18 cm long, 1.5-7 cm wide, the median cauline larger than the upper and lower, cuneate or cuneate-attenuate into a petioloid base, slightly sinuate-denticulate with apiculate teeth, obtuse, apiculate, shortly scabrid above, finely tomentose beneath.. Capitula in large terminal long-stalked compound corymbiform scorpioid cymose clusters; stalks of individual capitula densely ascending-pubescent; involucre obconical, 9-13 mm long; phyllaries in several series, ovate or narrowly ovate, acute to attenuate, finely densely spreading-pubescent and purplish on upper margins, the inner 10-12 mm long.. Corolla lilac, 10.5 mm long, lobes 2.5 mm long, with a few small ascending hairs.. Achenes (immature) glabrous or shortly ascending-pubescent, 4-ribbed; outer pappus of small fimbriate scales 0.4-0.6 mm long, inner pappus white or with a slight purplish tinge, 7.5-8 mm long.
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