Annual. Stems erect, ribbed, branched above, 35-100 cm tall, with sparse to dense cobwebby tomentum. Lvs not decurrent on stems, with sparse to dense cobwebby tomentum especially beneath; lower lvs linear-oblanceolate, 8-15 × 0.5-1 cm, entire or minutely and distantly dentate, or with 1-(2) pairs of short narrowly triangular lateral lobes; lamina tapering to long petiole; upper lvs simple, becoming linear, smaller. Capitula not clustered. Involucre globose to campanulate, (9)-10-15 mm diam.; outer and middle bracts ovate to lanceolate, weakly 3-(5)-veined, pubescent or with sparse cobwebby hairs; appendages erect, fimbriate, not covering bracts, membranous, not narrowed at junction with bract, decurrent to base of the bract; fimbriae 7-10-(12) each side, the distal ones black or dark brown, c. 1 mm long, the proximal ones silvery. Florets usually blue, sometimes purple, pink or white, the outer radiate. Corolla eglandular. Achenes 3-3.5 mm long, sparsely pubescent; pappus up to 2.5 mm long.