Stems 40-100 cm long, sulcate-striate, lanate, often many branched. Lower leaves thin, lower surface white tomentose, broadly oblanceolate, 7-21 cm long, lyrate-pinnatiparted, terminal segments largest, deltoid, sometimes 3-lobed, acute, lateral segments 7 or 8 pairs, remotely arranged, oblong-lanceolate to obovate, upper and basal segments smaller, spatulate; median cauline leaves oblong, acuminate, lyrate-pinnatifid; upper leaves few, linear-lanceolate or linear. Heads many; involucre globose, 12-14×18-22 mm, bracts 8-seriate, with a cristate appendage on back at tip, outer bracts ovate-deltoid, acute, median bracts oblong, inner bracts linear-lanceolate. Corolla purplish, 13-14 mm long. Achenes oblong, 2.5 x 1 mm, brown, 15-ribbed. Pappus bristles to 10-11 mm long. Chromosome number, 2n = 36 (Peng & Hsu, 1978).

India, southeast Asia, Australia, Korea, Japan and China. Taiwan, a spring annual widespread in waste ground, along roadsides, on paddy ridges and in cultivated lowlands, from seaside to ca. 800 m.

TAIPEI: Wulai, Kueishan, Peng 13924. ILAN: Fenniaolin, Peng 13765. TAOYUAN: Fuhsing, Hsiayun to Hsiayunping, Peng 10281; Ishan Village, Liao 168. HSINCHU: Hsinfeng, Hsinchuangzu, Peng 6376; Hengshan, Peng 13662. MIAOLI: Yuanli, Peng 10572. TAICHUNG: Chingshui, Kanglangli, Peng 4481; Taya, Wang 1467. NANTOU: Sun Moon lake, Peng 10416. TAINAN: Chiangjun, Peipu, Peng 13166; Peimen, Hsiaokeliao, Peng 10532. PINGTUNG: Kenting Natl. Park, Kuanshan, Peng 12517. TAITUNG: Lanyu Is., Peng 6756.