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Phyllaries gradually narrowing to an acute or obtuse apex, not rounded or expanded above, often purple-tipped and subapically mucronate, appressed brownish-or white-hispid to pilose; the outermost short, lanceolate or narrowly ovate, the inner progressively longer becoming narrowly lanceolate to lorate.
Achenes pale-to dark-brown, 2.5–5 mm. long, narrowly obconical or obpyramidal, angular, 5–12-ribbed, hispidulous and ± glandular; outer pappus of many short overlapping oblong-lanceolate scales c. 0.5 mm. long, the inner of brownish or white barbellate setae 4–6 mm. long, not plumose.
Leaves of lower stem up to 8.0 x 0.6 cm., though mostly smaller, linear, ± revolute, soon withering; upper-cauline leaves and leaves of the branches usually much narrower, c. 1–6.5 x 0.1 cm., mostly filiform-linear, ± strongly revolute, puberulous to scabridulous.
Involucres 6–12 mm. long, exceeding or equalling the pappus at anthesis, obconic with ± spreading phyllaries, or subfusiform to campanulate with the inner phyllaries remaining ± appressed.
Capitula numerous in open panicles, or capitula fewer and corymbiform cymose on the branches; capitula stalks slender and up to 2 cm. long, or stout and 2–6 cm. long.
Stems simple or ± diffusely branched, leafy above; branches 3–40 cm. long, ribbed, puberulous.
Corollas purplish, 6–11 mm. long, tapering to the base.
An erect annual herb, c. 10–120 cm. tall.
