Japan Flora: Rhi­zomes stout; stems 1-2 m. long, pubescent; median cauline leaves often falcate, oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, 20-30 cm. long, acuminate, narrowed at base, short-pubescent above, cobwebby and pubescent on the nerves beneath, broadly clasping, spinulose, entire to pinnately lobed, the lobes 4 or 5 pairs, acuminate, coarsely toothed, the spines 3-4 mm. long; heads small, rather many, loose, on long slender peduncles; involucres tubular, 1.6 cm. long, 1.6-1.9 cm. wide; bracts viscid, 9-seriate, the outer very short, linear to ovate, acuminate, short spine-tipped, the median row ovate-lanceolate, acute, appressed; corollas purplish, 17-18 mm. long.  Sept.-Oct. Woods.

Honshu (Chugoku Distr.).

var. manisanense Kitam. Leaves larger, 25-40 cm. long, cobwebby; bracts scarcely or not viscid. Honshu (Tajima and Inaba Prov.).