Annual herb 0.3–1.8 m high, erect, little branched to much branched; stem scabrid-hispid, often with purple spots at the base of the hairs. Leaves (sub-)sessile, narrowly ovate to narrowly elliptic, 3–16(–20) cm long, 0.6–3(–5) cm wide, base obtuse, truncate or semi-amplexicaul, sometimes cuneate (Lisowski), margins subentire or shallowly crenate, apex acute to attenuate, hispid on both surfaces. Capitula axillary, solitary and subsessile among the upper leaves; involucre ovoid, 3-seriate, 8–14(–30) mm long; phyllaries green with scarious brown base, hispid, the inner often with darker tips; paleae 6–10 mm long with obtuse or acute apex, often with reddish tips. Ray florets dark red, purple or almost black, less often white, 2–5(–11), without styles, the ray almost circular, 6–9(–15 fide Lisowski) mm long, tube 3.5–8 mm long, glabrous; disc florets coloured as the rays, 5–8 mm long, glabrous but the lobes puberulous; anther appendages often purple. Achenes obovoid, 5–6 mm long, pubescent; pappus a lacerate cupule to 1 mm high and usually with 2 setae 1–3.5 mm long.
