Japan Flora: Stems erect from thick caudex, terete, often branched at base, 20-80 cm. long, usually white-pubescent with long curved hairs; leaves many, lanceolate to oblong, 2.5-8 cm. long, 6-12 mm. wide, obtuse or subacute, narrowed gradually toward the base, minutely toothed or nearly entire, deep green, glabrous, the involucral leaves broadly ovate, triangular-ovate, or ovate- orbicular, 5-12 mm. long; inflorescence loose or rather dense, the glands of the involucres oblong, dark brown or dark pur­ple, about 1.5 mm. across; capsules about 3.5 mm. across, with 3 or 6 longitudinal series of tubercles; seeds broadly ellipsoidal, smooth, about 1.8 mm. long. June-July. Grassy places in lowlands and mountains.

Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu; com­mon and variable. Korea, China, and Manchuria.