Perennials, 40-150 cm; taprooted. Stems 1-6, erect or ascending, much branched, basally setose, distally glabrous . Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate (basal and proximal cauline, petioles winged); blades (at least basal) oblanceolate, pinnatifid (often runcinate) or coarsely and irregularly toothed (apices acute; distal cauline reduced, entire). Heads (terminal and axillary) usually borne singly (sometimes clustered along stems and branches). Peduncles (nearly 0) not inflated, not bracteate. Calyculi of 3-4, minute bractlets. Involucres cylindric, 2.5-5 mm diam. Phyllaries 5-9 in ± 1 series, linear-lanceolate, equal. Receptacles pitted, glabrous, epaleate. Florets 7-15; corollas (soon withering) yellow. Cypselae tan to black, nearly cylindric, beaks slender or stout, ribs 5+ (with alternating grooves), faces glabrous; pappi persistent (on expanded discs at tips of beaks), of 40-50+, distinct, white, smooth bristles in 1 series. x = 5.