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Leaves sessile, up to c. 10 x 0.6 cm., linear or narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate, acute to obtuse at the apex, mucronate, entire and revolute on the margins, ± gradually tapering to the base, puberulous to glabrescent, sometimes scabridulous; leaves of axillary growth much smaller and more crowded.
Achenes pale-brown, 2.5–4 mm. long, narrowly obconic-turbinate, 5–7-ribbed, hispidulous on the ribs and glandular between them; outer pappus of short white lanceolate scales, the inner of brownish barbellate setae c. 6 mm. long, not plumose.
Involucres up to c. 12 mm. long, urceolate-campanulate to hemispheric, usually rounded at the base, not or hardly spreading above, obscuring the pappus at anthesis.
Capitula few to numerous in lax corymbiform cymes or open panicles, capitula stalks stout, 2–10 cm. long, with a few linear bracts or ebracteate.
Stems unbranched below with the lower leaves soon withering, branched and ± densely leafy above; branches 5–40 cm. long, ribbed, pubescent.
Corollas purplish, 7–11 mm. long, tapering to the base.
An erect annual herb 0.3 to 1 m. tall.
