Perennial herbs, rarely annuals or shrubs. Lvs alternate or all basal, simple, entire to toothed, rarely more deeply incised. Capitula 1-numerous, mostly in cymes or panicles. Involucral bracts in 2-several rows, equal or imbricate, usually herbaceous toward apices, sometimes wholly herbaceous or chartaceous. Receptacle flat or convex; scales 0. Outer florets usually ♀, rarely sterile, usually ligulate, very rarely filiform, few to numerous in 1-2 rows; ligules white to red, purple or blue. Inner florets ☿, tubular, few to numerous. Achenes all similar, obovoid to cylindric, compressed, glabrous or hairy and sometimes glandular, often 4-5-ribbed; pappus of scabrid hairs in 1 row, sometimes with an outer row of short hairs or scales.