Large, shrub-like perennial herbs to 3 m tall; stems striate, puberulent. Leaves alternate, ovate, or cuneiform, 10-15 cm long, apex acuminate or acute, base acuminate, entire, 3-5-lobed, lobes acute with broad, rounded sinuses, margins often crenate, upper surface velutinous, lower surface scabrous; petiole 5-15 cm long. Heads solitary, radiate, large and showy, ca. 10 cm across; peduncle 8-15 cm long; involucre 2.4-4 cm across, bracts in 3 or 4 series, graduated, imbricate, 1-2 cm long. Ray florets ca. 9-14 in one row, ligules elliptic, 4-6 cm long, apically 2- or 3-dentate, puberulent on abaxial surface. Disc florets numerous, ca. 15 mm long, corolla tubular, pubescent on abaxial surface, lobes yellow. Achenes dark brown, flat, somewhat triquetrous, 5-6 mm long, sericeous. Pappus of 2 sturdy awns and several shorter, broader scales that are connate at base, awns 4-5 mm long.

TAICHUNG: Takeng, Liu 317. KAOHSIUNG: Tengchih, Peng 16078.

Native of Mexico and Central America and naturalized in many other tropical countries. Taiwan, introduced as an ornamental and escaped to borders of orchards, bamboo groves, betal nut plantations and disturbed secondary forests, sea level to 1,000 m.