Japan Flora: Stems 1.5-2 m. long, glabrous at base, short-pubescent on upper part; lower cauline leaves elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 35-45 cm. long, short-acuminate, cuneate at base, short-petiolate, deeply pinnatifid, the lobes 5 or 6 pairs, oblong to ovate, acumi­nate, glabrous on upper side, glabrous to short-silky beneath, the spines 3-7 mm. long; heads small, many, nodding at an the- sis, on rather long peduncles; involucres campanulate, 1.5-1.7 cm. long, 2.4-2^ cm. wide, loosely cobwebby; bracts 8-seriate, densely brown-pubescent on margin, the outer very short, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, the median oblong, acuminate, scarcely spiny, recurved; corollas purplish, 15-16 mm. long.  Sept-Oct. Along ravines and valleys.

Honshu (n. distr.).