Erect annual herb. Stems ridged, sparsely to densely hairy, especially below, usually branched only above to form infl., sometimes branched from base, not rooting, 20-100-(150) cm tall. Lvs all cauline at flowering; lower cauline lvs elliptic to ovate-elliptic, apetiolate and cuneate, cuspidate, serrate, sparsely to moderately hairy, ciliate, 30-80 × 7-20 mm; uppermost lvs smaller, narrow-elliptic, sometimes obtuse at base, entire. Capitula c. 15-20 mm diam., 3-numerous in corymbs or panicles. Involucral bracts lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, sparsely hairy, 3.5-5 mm long. Ligules linear, pale blue or white, 3.5-7 mm long. Disc yellow. Achenes sparsely hairy, c. 0.8 mm long; pappus of disc florets of 1 row of long hairs and an outer row of short scales; pappus of ray florets of short scales only.