Perennial herb 7–60(?–90?) cm high, rhizomatous; stems erect, branched, ± glandular-pubescent, sometimes also arachnoid-glabrescent, leafy. Leaves sessile, oblong to oblanceolate, 2–13.5 cm long, 0.4–2.7 cm wide, tapered to an auriculate or subauriculate somewhat expanded base, margins sinuate-crenate or obscurely to coarsely sinuate-dentate or bidentate with rounded apiculate teeth, apex obtuse to rounded, minutely apiculate, dark green, sticky, glandular-pubescent and sometimes also thinly arachnoid-glabrescent above, glandular-pubescent beneath especially on midrib and veins and sometimes also thinly arachnoid, marcescent when old. Capitula radiate, subradiate with irregularly enlarged outer disc florets, or discoid, erect, 2–12 in usually congested terminal cymes; stalks of the individual capitula glandular, rarely also slightly arachnoid; involucre cylindrical, 8–11.5 mm long, 4–5 mm in diameter; bracts of calyculus 4–8, lax, lanceolate, 3–7 mm long, dark-tipped, ± glandular, at least on margins; phyllaries 10–14, 7–11 mm long, thinly finely glandular-pubescent and sometimes also very thinly arachnoid. Ray florets 5–7 or 0, variable within populations, when present yellow, tube 3–4 mm long, sparsely hairy, rays 4–6 x 1.5–2.2 mm; disc florets yellow, corolla 5–6.7 mm long, tube expanded above the middle, glabrous, lobes 0.5–0.8 mm long. Achenes 2.5–3.5 mm long, ribbed, glabrous or almost so; pappus 5.5–6.5 mm long, white.
