stem erect, simple, leafy at base or below the middle, prolonged into a nearly naked, woolly peduncle; subradical leaves coriaceous, lanceolate, acuminate, tapering at base, on both sides coated with a membranous, separable, silvery and rather glossy coat, 3–5-nerved, the upper surface at length denuded, lower persistently silvery; heads many in a dense, subglobose or branching and flat-topped cyme, many-fl.; invol. campanulate, imbricate, woolly at base, not radiating, the scales wavy, membranous, ovato-lanceolate, acuminate or acute, pale straw-colour, subpellucid. Stem 1–2 feet high, densely leafy at base. Root leaves numerous, 5–6 inches long, 1/2– 3/4 inch wide, tapering to both ends. Cauline leaves sessile, 2–3 inches long, 2–4 lines wide. The coating of the leaves may be peeled off as a thin, membranous, white skin; it finally splits longitudinally and peels off the upper surface. Mature inflorescence 2–3 inches across, umbellate, of 40–60 heads. Inv. scales whitish.
