Erect, clump-forming perennial, up to c. 1 m tall. Stems glabrous or with a few scattered hairs, not branched or sparingly branched to form infl. Basal and lower cauline lvs present at flowering, opposite, long-petiolate, almost glabrous and ciliate to moderately hairy, mostly simple and entire, sometimes with 2 smaller basal lobes, rarely some lvs 1-pinnate with 2 pairs of broad leaflets, elliptic to oblanceolate, 5-15-(30) × 1-2-(5) cm; upper cauline lvs 0 or few, becoming smaller, apetiolate, and narrower. Capitula 5-7.5 cm diam., solitary or in loose cymes, long-pedunculate. Outer involucral bracts green, usually ciliate near apex, narrow- to ovate-triangular, 8-15 mm long, > 1/2 to ± = inner bracts; inner bracts with dark lined centre and membranous margins, glabrous, ovate-triangular. Receptacular scales narrow-oblong with long linear apex. Ray florets usually 7-8; ligules yellow to golden yellow. Disc florets numerous; corolla golden, 5-toothed. Achenes ± orbicular, black, with few scattered hairs on inner surface, 2.5-3.5 mm long; wings broad, pale brown, entire; awns 2, 0.5 mm long, with antrorse hairs.