Perennial subshrub, erect, 0.8-2.2 m tall. Stems green, striate, solid, usually woody at base, 0.5-2.5 cm in diam., branching apically; branches terete, viscid-tomentose particularly in inflorescence axes with intermixed glands and multicellular hairs. Lower leaves larger, narrowly oblong, 24-30×10-12 cm, pilose on upper surfaces, villous on lower surface, with multicellular hairs and numerous sessile glands (colleters), apex acuminate, base attenuate, margins irregularly doubly dentate mucronulate, veins 14-16 pairs. Heads 8-12 mm long, 3-5 mm across, in large terminal and axillary lax panicles, pedunculate, viscid. Involucres globose-campanulate, bracts in 3- or 4- series, outer bracts shorter, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, with numerous colleters and multicellular hairs on the outer surface, reflexed; inner bracts linear. Receptacle 2.5-3 mm across, slightly convex, alveolate, minutely fimbrillate. Central florets tubular, yellow, 7-8 mm long, lobes 5, broadly triangular, pubescent, with colleters and sparse multicellular hairs; outer florets filiform, 6.5-7.5 mm long, 2-3 lobed, generally glabrous. Achenes pale brown, oblong, 1-1.4 mm long, 10-ribbed, hirsute. Pappus pale brown, 5-6 mm long. Chromosome number, 2n = 18 (Peng & Hsu, 1978).

TAIPEI: Sanhsia, Peng 10122. TAICHUNG: Tungmaoshan, Leu s. n. 1985. NANTOU: Lushan, Peng 6148. CHIAYI: Fanlu, Peng 10050; Kuanyin Fall, Ying s. n. 1990 (Holotype of Gynura taiwanense S. S. Ying). TAINAN: Kantoushan, Peng 7070. KAOHSIUNG: Tengchih, Yang 9903. HUALIEN: Taroko, Peng 7401.

The Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Thailand and China. Taiwan, forest edge from low to mid elevations.