Annuals, mostly 30–50(–100) cm. Stems greenish, becoming purplish or yellowish, unbranched or sparingly branched distal to bases, strigose. Leaf blades 3–5-nerved, ovate to elliptic or broadly lanceolate, 25–70 × 8–35 mm, scabrellous. Peduncles 10–50(–70) mm. Involucres narrowly to broadly campanulate, 9–18 × 10–20 mm. Phyllaries obovate to oblong, becoming scarious, glabrous, apices rounded, usually entire or erose, sometimes ciliate. Paleae red to purple or yellow, apices obtuse, erose or subentire. Ray florets 6–15(–21); corollas usually scarlet red or maroon, sometimes yellow, laminae linear to spatulate, 8–25 mm. Disc florets 12–50; corollas yellow, 5–6 mm, lobes ca. 1 mm. Cypselae 7–10 mm, 3-angled (ray) or compressed (disc), ribbed, ciliate; pappi usually of 1 stout awn 4–6 mm (from shoulders of cypselae). 2n = 24.
