Plants usually small, delicate. Petiole ± unwinged; leaf blade usually with recurved lateral segments, their distal margin often sigmoid. Outer phyllaries (5–)9–13(–22), black or black green, not imbricate or ± imbricate, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate, or sometimes linear-lanceolate, appressed, unbordered or less often with a pale border, apex flat or callose. Stigmas usually black or blackish green, rarely yellow. Achene usually 4–5.5 × (1–)1.2–1.4 mm; body most often densely shortly spinulose or squamulose above, sometimes with longer erect spinules, gradually to subabruptly narrowing into a conic to thickly subcylindric 0.6–1.7 mm cone; beak 5–10 mm. Pappus white or yellowish, 5–8 mm. Sexual or agamospermous.

from: Ge X., Kirschner J. & Štěpánek J. in Wu Z. Y. & al. (ed.), Flora of China 20–21: 285. 2011, Beijing & St Louis.