Herbs, annual or perennial, robust. Stems erect, branched. Leaves alternate, glabrous or pubescent, subentire, serrate, or pinnately lobed. Capitula disciform, heterogamous, in terminal paniculate corymbs, few calyculate. Involucres cylindric; phyllaries uniseriate, linear-lanceolate, equal, with scarious margins. Receptacle flat or slightly concave, alveolate or fimbriate. All florets tubular, fertile, outer florets biseriate or uniseriate, female, corolla filiform, 4- or 5-denticulate; central florets bisexual, funnelform, 5-denticulate. Anthers obtuse at base. Style branches elongate, apically truncate or obtuse, papillose. Achenes brownish, subcylindric, 10-ribbed. Pappus hairs many seriate, subequal, slender.

About five species: mainly in the Americas; two species (both introduced) in China.

(Authors: Chen Yilin (陈艺林 Chen Yi-ling); Bertil Nordenstam)