Japan Flora: Rhizomes short; roots fusiform; stems about 1 m. long, glabrous or pubescent, branched and cobwebby on upper portion; median cauline leaves many, linear, 6-*20 cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide, gradually attenuate, narrowed at base, decurrent, entire or ir­regularly undulate-incised, sessile or short-petiolate, the lobules spinulose on margin, glabrous above, loosely cobwebby and distinctly 1-nerved beneath, the upper leaves linear, smaller; heads solitary on the branches, erect; involucres globose, cob­webby, about 1.5 cm. long, 2-2.5 cm. wide; bracts 6- to 7-seri- ate, 1-ribbed on back, the outer and median linear, appressed, spine-tipped; corollas purplish, about 17 mm. long. Sept- Oct. Lowlands.

Honshu (Suwo Prov.), Shikoku, Kyushu. 

var. discolor Nakai, Leaves whitish cobwebby.