Annuals or short-lived perennials, (20–)40–70(–100) cm, arachnose, pannose, or woolly. Leaves: basal and cauline, obovate, 5–20 cm × 10–45 mm, margins usually entire to undulate, sometimes dentate, lyrate, or pinnately lobed (basal and proximal cauline usually withering before flowering, their bases petioliform); distal cauline smaller (sessile, bases clasping). Peduncles (6–)10–20(–30) cm, sometimes with 1 or 2 leaves (1–3 cm). Phyllaries: outer appressed, linear to linear-lanceolate, abaxial faces arachnose (appendages 1–3 mm, blunt, woolly); inner appressed, ± lanceolate (appendages 4–6 mm, rounded to acute, ciliate). Ray florets 22–30 in 1 series; corolla laminae (17–)20–30 × 2–4 mm, abaxial faces violet, adaxial white (sometimes yellowish proximally). Cypselae obovoid, 2–3 mm, sericeous (hairs from bases) and tomentulose (on faces); pappi of 5–8, ovate to oblong, hyaline scales 0.5–4 mm (outer shorter). 2n = 18.
