Japan Flora: Stems 1.5-2 m. long, glaucescent, glabrous; cauline leaves oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, 18-28 cm. long, acuminate, abruptly narrowed at base, broadly auriculate- clasping, spinulose-toothed or pinnately cleft, the lobes 5-7 pairs, oblong, acute to short-acuminate, coarsely toothed at base, scattered short-pubescent to glabrous on both sides, the spines 3-4 mm. long; heads solitary on the branches, long- pedunculate, erect at anthesis, about 3 cm. across, often bracte­ate; involucres campanulate, about 1.6 cm. long, about 2 cm. wide, nearly glabrous; bracts 6-seriate, the outer and median linear-lanceolate, acuminate, scarcely spine-tipped, elongate, re­curved in upper half, very rarely spinulose on margin; corollas purplish, 17-20 mm. long. July-Sept.

Honshu (n. distr.).

var. muraii (Kitam.) Kitam. Leaf-lobes ovate-linear, reflexed, long-acuminatc, the spines 5-15 mm. long; inflorescence with larger leaves.  Honshu (Kinkasan in Rikuchu).