Erect annual, up to c. 1 m tall. Stems sparsely to moderately hairy above, becoming glabrous below, usually branched. Lvs long-petiolate, spineless; lamina green with with scattered short, scabrid, hairs and glands on both surfaces, broad-ovate, irregularly serrate, 3-lobed or not lobed, cordate or truncate at base, 5-15 cm long; uppermost lvs smaller and narrower. ♂ and ♀ capitula in axillary or terminal clusters; ♀ sometimes solitary; ♂ with numerous florets. Fruiting involucre sparsely to moderately scabrid, sometimes almost glabrous at maturity, 15-25 × 8-20 mm; prickles hooked, glabrous or hairy, 3-5 mm long; beaks 2, conspicuous, 4-6 mm long.