Stems 50-150 cm long, erect, simple or branching apically; branches divaricate ascending, base glabrous, crisp puberulent apically. Leaves short petiolate, ca. 2-10 mm long, median leaves broadly ovate, thick, 6.5-9×4.5-6.5 cm, lateral nerves 5-7 pairs, apex obtuse or short acuminate, base shallowly cordate or round, lower leaves smaller, to 2-3 cm long, margins serrate, teeth obtuse, both sides nearly glabrous, lower surface glandular punctate. Flowering stems ending in compact corymbs with numerous heads; bracteoles lanceolate, involucre cylindric, 5-8-flowered, bracts 3-seriate, obtuse or rounded at apex, outer bracts much shorter, sparsely glandular punctate. Corolla tubular, 3.5 mm long, glandular. Achenes glandular, black, 3-4 mm long, sparsely pilose. Pappus scanty, 3-4 mm long.

ILAN: Suao, Huang 13110; Wushihpi, Peng 10818. HUALIEN: Su-Hua Highway, at road marker 179 km, Chung 1304; Hsiulin, Chung 1305; Chingshui Cliff, Shen 690.

This species was misidentified by Hayata (as E. reevesii), Sasaki, Kitamura and Li (as E. luchuense). It is similar to E. luchuense, but can be easily distinguished by the 5-8-flowered heads (vs. 5-flowered heads), petiole ca. 0.2-1 cm long [vs. petiole 1-2 cm (3-8 cm, according to Yahara, Kawahara, Watanabe, Fl. Jap. 3b: 113. 1995)], heads in compact corymbs (vs. loose corymbs), leaf base cordate or rounded (vs. rounded to subtruncate).