Japan Flora: Rhi­zomes stout; stems 1.5-2 m. long, short-pubescent, branched in upper portion, loosely cobwebby on the peduncles; median and lower cauline leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 2分，25 cm. long, acute to acuminate, narrowed at base, clasping and decurrent, entire to pinnatcly parted, spiny, the segments about 6 pairs, spreading, oblong-lanceolate, acute, toothed, glabrous on upper side, short-pubescent on nerves beneath, the spines 3-5 mm. long; heads few, approximate, erect at anthesis; involucres campanulate-globosc, about 1.5 cm. long, 2.5-3 cm. wide; bracts 6-scriate, the outer shorter, linear-lanceolate, the outer and median spine-tipped, sometimes spinulose on margin; corolla purplish, 16-17 mm. long.  July-Sept. Wet places in lowlands.

Hokkaido (s. distr.), Honshu (Mutsu Prov.).