Japan Flora: Stems erect, 30 cm. or more long, loosely pubescent or glabrous, sometimes cobwebby in upper portion; median cauline leaves closely ap­proximate, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 15-20 cm. long, acute to acuminate, spine-margined, sessile, sometimes clasping and decurrent, pinnatcly parted to entire, the segments approxi­mate, ovate to lanceolate, loosely pubescent on upper side, pubescent on nerves beneath, sometimes glabrous on both sides, the spines 2-3 mm. long; heads sessile or short-peduncu­late; involucres slightly cobwebby, globose-campanulate, 1.5- 2.2 cm. long, 2.5-3.5 cm. wide; bracts 6-seriate, erect, nearly equal, the outer sometimes slightly shorter, short spine-tipped; corollas purplish, 16-17 mm. long.  Aug. Alpine regions. 

Honshu (n. distr，)