Corm large, globose; tunic papery, netted. Stem ± 1.5 m high, sturdy, branched. Leaves < stem, to 5 cm wide, mostly cauline, ± stiff, erect, midvein noticeable. Spike 15-25 cm long, distichous, dense, 20-30-flowered; spathe-valves brownish purple-green, enclosing ½ narrow section of perianth-tube. Flowers ± 7.5 cm long, ± 3 cm diam., entirely reddish-orange or occasionally yellow-orange; tube ± 4.5 cm long, narrow lower part ± 8 mm long, twisted, curved upper part 3-4 cm long, somewhat truncate at base; upper lobe 3 cm long, spathulate, other lobes 1.5-2 cm long, 2 longer obtuse, 3 smaller ± acute. Anthers pinkish-red or yellow, projecting beyond longest perianth-lobe. Seeds sharply angled, black, shining.

Erect annual or biennial herb, up to 2-(2.5) m tall. Stems ridged, moderately to densely softly hairy, often becoming sparsely hairy below. Cauline lvs usually obovate to narrow-oblanceolate, rarely linear, ± flat, apetiolate and cuneate, acute, often shallowly 1-pinnatifid or remotely serrate, sometimes entire especially above, sparsely to densely scaberulous, ciliate, (20)-35-120-(250) × 4-20-(45) mm; uppermost lvs smaller, usually narrow-oblanceolate or narrow-elliptic. Infl. a leafy pyramidal panicle with dominant main axis. Capitula 1.5-2 mm diam.; receptacle usually with distinct flanges between pits, sometimes with short flanges or ± smooth. Inner involucral bracts lanceolate, green, usually hairy at least toward apex, 4-5.5-(6) mm long; outer bracts moderately to densely hairy. Outer florets filiform, cream, usually becoming reddish. Achenes obovoid, sparsely hairy, 1-1.2-(1.4) mm long; pappus hairs fawn or dirty white.

Erect annual to biennial herb, up to 1.5 m tall. Stems ridged, sparsely hispid, becoming almost glabrous below. Cauline lvs elliptic to narrow-oblanceolate or linear, flat, apetiolate and cuneate, acute, entire, remotely serrate, or shallowly 1-pinnatifid, usually almost glabrous except for short cilia, sometimes sparsely to moderately scaberulous, 40-80-(120) × 3-10-(20) mm; uppermost lvs smaller, often ± linear. Infl. a long, leafy pyramidal panicle with dominant main axis. Capitula 1.5-2.5 mm diam.; receptacle with raised flanges between pits. Inner involucral bracts narrow-triangular, green, later tinged purple, glabrous, 3.2-4 mm long; outer bracts glabrous or with few hairs or ciliate. Outer florets filiform or with inconspicuous ligules < 0.5 mm long, cream, later tinged purple. Achenes obovoid-cylindric, sparsely hairy, 1.2-1.4 mm long; pappus hairs cream.