Biennials, 40–100 cm. Leaves: basal simple (5–20+ mm wide) or 1-pinnate, 8–20 cm, lobes 5–20+ × 1–5(–20+) mm; cauline 2–16. Heads 20–60 per stem. Peduncles 1–6 cm. Phyllaries whitish (sometimes red-tinged) or yellowish, 5–12 × 2–7 mm. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 40–60; corollas white to purplish or yellowish to reddish, 3–5 mm, tubes 2–3 mm, throats funnelform, 1–1.5 mm, lengths 1–1.5 times lobes. Cypselae 3.5–5 mm, hirtellous or villous; pappi of 16–18 scales 0.3–1(–1.5) or 1.5–2 mm.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): sc United States.