Plants usually medium-sized, base without a tunic or with a few old petioles. Petiole unwinged or winged; leaf blade pinnatisect; lateral lobes few to numerous, usually triangular to narrow, margin often dentate or lobulate. Capitulum usually 3–4 cm wide. Outer phyllaries usually 12–20, lanceolate to broadly ovate, long, often imbricate, appressed, loosely appressed, or less often arcuaterecurved, usually distinctly broadly or narrowly bordered, apex usually corniculate or horned. Ligules yellow; floret tube glabrous. Achene red, reddish brown, brown, castaneous, or straw-colored brown, usually 4.3–5.5 mm; body usually densely spinulose above, usually subabruptly narrowing into a distinct cylindric 1–1.5 mm cone, spinules long and thin; beak usually 0.8–1.3 cm. Pappus ± white.

from: Ge X., Kirschner J. & Štepánek J. in Wu Z. Y. & al. (ed.), Flora of China 20–21: 321. 2011, Beijing & St Louis.