Plants annual or biennial, glabrous or very weakly short-papillose mostly in inflorescence and on leaf blades, with fusiform, vertical rootstock. Stems erect, normally branched in distal 2/3, occasionally almost near base, 10–60(–100) cm. Leaves: ocrea normally deciduous, rarely partially persistent at maturity; blade lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed at both ends, (10–)15–30(–35) × 1.5–6 cm, more than 4 times as long as wide, base narrowly to broadly cuneate, margins entire, flat or, rarely, weakly undulate, apex acute, rarely subobtuse. Inflorescences terminal, occupying distal 1/2 of stem, rarely more, reddish brown at maturity, usually lax, interrupted in proximal 1/2 or 2/3, broadly paniculate; branches spreading. Pedicels articulated near base or at least in proximal 1/3, filiform, 3–6 mm, articulation weakly evident. Flowers 15–25(–30) in rather dense whorls; inner tepals narrowly triangular, narrowly rhombic-triangular, or linguliform, (2.5–)3–3.5(–4) × 1.2–1.5(–2) mm (excluding teeth), normally ca. 2 times as long as wide, base truncate or broadly cuneate, margins prominently dentate, apex acute very rarely subacute, straight, teeth (1–)2–3, normally at each side of margins, subulate-filiform, bristlelike, straight, 1–2(–3) mm, usually as long as width of inner tepals; tubercles 3, equal or subequal, apex obtuse, smooth. Achenes light brown, 0.9–1.75 × 0.6–1 mm. 2n = 60.
