An erect suffrutex 12–80 cm. tall, from a woody rootstock with numerous spreading thong-like roots. Stems annual, usually single, simple or branching above, somewhat zigzag above, leaves ± crowded in upper part, whitish-grey araneose-lanate with long fine matted-appressed hairs usually interspersed with few to numerous purplish patent larger hairs. Leaves discolorous, sessile, mostly 7–22 x 1.5–7.5 cm., elliptic to lanceolate, ± tapering-acute to the apex, semi-amplexicaul and subauriculate below, margins sharply serrulate often bi-serrulate; upper surface green, thinly araneose, glabrescent; lower surface persistently appressed greyish araneose-lanate, sometimes with scattered large brownish hairs on both surfaces. Capitula solitary and terminal on the stem, or 2–6 terminal on branches. Involucres mostly 10–22 x 12–35 mm., broadly campanulate, truncate at the base, araneose-lanate to glabrescent. Outer phyllaries 6–30(38) mm. long, lanceolate, fimbriate-denticulate on the margins, attenuate above or with a caudate appendage-like apical portion 3–22 mm. long, this sometimes elongating to c. 30 mm. long and then greatly exceeding inner phyllaries; inner phyllaries up to c. 25 mm. long, tapering-lorate, grading into receptacular paleae; phyllary margins narrowly membranous often purple, fimbriate-denticulate with linear teeth 0.5–3 mm. long, sometimes inner phyllary apices expanded. Receptacular paleae 10–15 mm. long, triangular-lorate, reddish-purple-tipped and denticulate about the apex. Ray-florets deep-red, 14–30 mm. long, with exserted stamens and style, ovary rudimentary; rays 9–22 mm. long widening to apex, 2.5–9 mm. at broadest part, 3-fid with lobes c. 2 mm. long, inner lip of 2 linear lobes 4.5–6 mm. long; pappus of a few caducous setae 4–5 mm. long. Disk-florets deep-red, 11–14 mm. long, narrowly tubular below with a deeply lobed campanulate limb 5–6.5 mm. long, lobes 4–5 mm. long linear, ovary fertile. Achenes 5–6 x 2.5–3 mm., angular-barrel-shaped, 5-ribbed, minutely puberulous, carpopodium swollen; pappus of caducous barbellate setae 6–9 mm. long.