Large herb, covered on the terete striate branches, under side of leaves, and inflorescence with a close whitish tomentum. Upper leaves alternate, elliptic-oblong, broadly or obtusely pointed, somewhat narrowed at base, subsessile, entire or obsoletely denticulate, scabrous and dark green above, 2 1/2 in. long, 2/3 in. broad. Capitula turbinate, many-flowered, 2/3 in. wide, on thick unequal pedicels up to 1 in. long, in an elongated terminal panicle. Scales of involucre numerous multiseriate, linear-lanceolate, densely tomentose, tipped with a dark green, glabrous, rigid, subpatent apiculus. Corolla gradually narrowed, purple, lobes thinly pilose above. Anthers acutely produced at base; apical connective linear-lanceolate, acute. Achenes 4–5-ridged, sparsely setulose between the ridges, otherwise glabrous. Pappus white, duplex, barbate, outer very short, narrowly squamiform, inner stout rigid setiform, caducous.