Japan Flora: Stems 1-1.5 m. long, densely pubescent or cobwebby; lower cauline leaves elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, about 30 cm. long, caudate, glabrous or short-pubesccnt on both sides, sessile, somedmes clasping, deeply pinnatifid, the lobes 4 or 5 pairs, acuminate, the spines 5-10 mm. long; heads sessile or short-pedunculate, erect or ascending; involucres tubular, 1.6-1.9 cm. long, 2-2.3 cm. wide, cobwebby, viscid; bracts 6-seriate, short-recurved and spine-tipped, the outer small, lanceolate or ovate-lanceo­late, acuminate, the median oblong-lanccolate, acuminate; corollas purplish, 14-20 mni. long. Sept-Oct.

Honshu (Kinki and Tokaidd Distr.)