Biennial with cylindric rootstock. Stems erect, weakly ribbed, glabrous or sometimes with sparse cobwebby tomentum above, 30-100 cm tall. Lvs linear- to lanceolate-subulate, entire, acuminate, 5-30-(40) × 0.5-1.5-(2) cm; base sheathing; margins undulate or flat. Capitula solitary; peduncles swollen beneath capitula (> 5 mm thick at fruiting). Involucre glabrous at base; involucral bracts 6-8, lanceolate-acuminate, 3.5-6 × 0.5-1 cm at fruiting, glabrous, or tomentose near apex. Corolla mauve to purple, < involucre. Achenes fusiform, ribbed, the outer coarsely muricate, the inner becoming smooth; body 8-13-(15) mm long; beak < or up to 2× length of body, barely clavate at apex. Pappus sordid, 1.5-2 cm long, plumose, in 2 rows, seated on a distinct tomentose annulus.