Perennial. Stems erect, ribbed, branched, 40-70-(150) cm tall, with sparse multicellular and cobwebby hairs. Lvs not decurrent on stems, with scabrid hairs; lower lvs deeply 1-(2)-pinnatifid, 12-20-(30) × 3-8-(10) cm, with oblong, obtuse to subacute lateral lobes; upper lvs pinnatifid, becoming sessile, smaller. Capitula not clustered. Involucre globose, (7)-15-20 mm diam.; outer and middle bracts ovate to elliptic, not veined or obscurely 3-7-veined, glabrescent or puberulent or with cobwebby hairs; appendages erect to recurved, pectinate-fimbriate, not covering bracts, membranous, not narrowed at junction with bract, decurrent on upper 1/2of bract; fimbriae 8-14 on each side, brown, 2-3 mm long. Florets purple, the outer radiate. Corolla eglandular. Achenes 4-5.5 mm long, puberulent; pappus 4-5 mm long.