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Achenes 2–2.5 mm. long, 4–5-angled, tapering to base, angles ribbed, the faces transversely rugose with gland-dotted ridges, ± hispidulous; outer pappus of pale lacerate scales c. 1 mm. long (sometimes reduced and fringe-like), inner pappus usually absent, rarely of 1–2 short barbellate setae.
Phyllaries many-seriate, imbricate, increasing in size to the inside, acute to acuminate at the apex, villous-setose and ciliate to glabrescent, often purple-tipped; the outer from c. 2 mm. long, linear-lanceolate; the inner to c. 6 mm. long, narrowly oblong-lanceolate.
Stems ± divaricately branched, leafy, striately ribbed, pilose and glandular; indumentum a mixture of short-stalked hairs with appressed elongate terminal cells, and few to numerous larger soft patent many-celled simple hairs with erect elongate terminal cells.
Capitula many, subpaniculate, usually in 2–5-capitulate clusters, or solitary on the branches; capitula stalks mostly 1–10 mm. long, longer in solitary heads, whitish pilose.
Corollas purple, exserted 2–3 mm. beyond the involucre, 5–7 mm. long, tubular, gradually widening to a narrowly funnel-shaped limb.
An erect annual herb, 15–60 cm. tall, becoming somewhat bushy.
Involucres 4–6 x 4–10 mm., broadly campanulate.
