Erect herb arising from a short, thick rhizome; stem stout, 60-80-(120) cm high at flowering, often much-branched, moderately to densely pubescent and usually with scattered longer hairs. Lvs both basal and cauline; basal lvs with petiole up to 20 cm long, grooved and pilose; blade ovate, ± lyrate, up to 30 cm long, imparipinnate with (2)-3-6 pairs of major leaflets often separated by reduced leaflets, sparsely hairy above, hairy below especially along veins, with margins 2-serrate to serrate and laciniate; terminal leaflet (3)-6-12 cm long and deeply incised. Cauline lvs decreasing in size upwards, with ± ovate-orbicular dissected stipules, the uppermost lvs ternate or 3-5-lobed, sometimes merely 2-serrate. Infl. a few-flowered, loose cyme; peduncles densely pubescent and usually with scattered longer hairs, up to 12 cm long. Epicalyx segments ± elliptic-lanceolate, c. 2-3 mm long. Sepals ovate-triangular, c. 5-7 mm long, hairy, reflexed at fruiting. Petals (5)-6-10 mm long, rounded, yellow. Achenes c. 150-250, hairy, forming a cylindric-globose head 14-20 × 12-20 mm; distal part of style deciduous; proximal part of style persistent, hooked, glabrous or with scattered hairs at base.