Perennials, 20–80 cm (taproots slender, caudices swollen). Stems 1–3(–5), erect, branched (branches strict with relatively few secondary branches), sparsely to densely tomentulose. Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate (petiole bases broadened, clasping); blades elliptic-lanceolate, 10–40 × 2–7 cm, margins deeply pinnately lobed (lobes mostly lanceolate or falcate, usually entire, rarely with 1–2 teeth), apices attentuate, faces tomentose or glabrate, sometimes setose. Heads 15–20+, in congested, corymbiform arrays. Calyculi of 5–7, lanceolate, green-setose bractlets 2–5 mm. Involucres cylindric, 9–17 × 4–7 mm. Phyllaries 6–10, lanceolate, 12–15 mm (margins yellowish, scarious), apices acute, abaxial faces tomentulose and coarsely green-setose, adaxial glabrous or with fine hairs. Florets 8–25; corollas yellow, 18–20 mm. Cypselae dark brown to olive, subcylindric, 8–9 mm, apices tapered, ribs 10–12 (strong); pappi whitish or yellowish white, 6–9 mm. 2n = 44, 55, 88.
