Annual, 40-120 cm tall, branched or not at base and sometimes sparingly above; stems 1-(3), erect. Basal lvs 0 at flowering or sometimes dead but persisting. Lower cauline lvs apetiolate but lowermost often long-cuneate, densely tomentose on lower surface, sparsely to moderately tomentose on upper, somewhat discolorous, plane, spathulate to narrow-obovate, acute or subacute, mucronate, undulate at least near apex, (25)-40-100 × (2)-5-15-(20) mm; upper cauline lvs smaller, broader based and often ± oblong. Capitula in dense terminal and axillary leafy clusters; clusters remaining discrete or forming terminal spikes. Involucral bracts elliptic-oblong or oblong, acutely narrowed to apiculate apex, (3)-3.5-4 mm long; stereome green; lamina pale brown, darker toward base; gap and margins usually clear, sometimes gap marked reddish purple; outer bracts glabrous. Achenes minutely papillate, c. 0.6 mm long.