Stems 10-100 cm tall, branched, sulcate-striate, densely puberulous. Radical leaves thick, oblong, larger than cauline leaves, 15-28 cm long, apex obtuse, base narrowed into winged petiole, pinnatifid, segments 6-8, ovate, margins again incised, apical spine 4-5 mm long, densely pilose on both surfaces, cauline leaves gradually becoming smaller, lanceolate, amplexicaul. Heads terminating branches, clustered or solitary, 3.5 cm broad, subtended by 3 or 4 leaves; involucre campanulate-globose, cobwebby, 17-22×25-30 mm, bracts coriaceous, 6-7 seriate, all erect, exterior ones linear-lanceolate, 15×1.5-2 mm, spinose; corolla white or light pink, 17-19 mm long, limb about as long as tube. Achenes oblong, compressed, 5 mm long; pappus light brown, 14 mm long. Chromosome number, 2n = 34 (Peng & Hsu, 1978).

PINGTUNG: Fengtsueishah, Peng 7203; Chialuoshui, Ohashi et al. 14847.

The Ryukyus and the southern tip of Taiwan.