Erect branched herb 20-150 cm tall, stems shortly ascending-pubescent. Leaves narrowly ovate, 2.3-10.5 cm long, 0.3-2 cm wide, base cuneate, margins serrate or sparsely dentate, apex acute, thinly shortly pubescent, glabrescent. Capitula in rather lax compound cymes; stalks of individual capitula (0-)1-7 mm long, densely ascending-pubescent; involucre campanulate or slightly urceolate, 1.7-2.5 mm long; phyllaries 3-seriate, dark-tipped, narrowly ovate to elliptic, 2-3 mm long, acute to acuminate with purplish tip, the margins ciliate and scarious. Florets 18-29 per capitulum; corolla mauve, lilac or purple, 2.2-2.5 mm long, lobes 1-1.2 mm long. Achenes subcylindric, 1-1.7 mm long, 4-6-ribbed, with short apical rim.