Japan Flora: Stems 60 cm. or more long, cobwebby; lower cauline leaves oblong, about 30 cm. long, acuminate, cuneate at base, nearly glabrous on both sides, short-petiolate, the lobes 9 pairs, acuminate, coarsely toothed, spines stout; upper leaves gradually smaller, sessile; heads nodding, long-pedunculate, in paniculate cor­ymbs; involucres campanulate, about 1.6 cm. long, 2.2 cm. wide; bracts 7- or 8-seriate, the margins scarious, undulate, shortly recurved, the outer short, ovate, acute, short spine­tipped, the median oblong, acute; corollas purple, 16-17 mm. long.  Aug.

Honshu (Akaishi Mr. range in Shinano).

var. alpinum (Nakai) Kitam. Involucral bracts elon­gate, short spine-dpped. Honshu (Mount Yatsugatake in Shinano Prov.).