Stems 35-100 cm tall with tuberous base, much branched, branches ascending. Lower and radical leaves smaller, spatulate; cauline leaves thick, oblong, 9-26×5-11.5 cm, apex obtuse to acute, base narrowed into short pseudostipulate petiole, amplexicaul or sometimes without pseudostipules, margins incise-dentate or often lyrate-pinnatifid or parted, terminal lobe much longer than laterals, segments incised-dentate; upper cauline leaves gradually smaller, ovate-lanceolate to linear, acuminate. Heads numerous or few, in loose corymbs; involucre tubular, 11-12×10-12 mm, subtended by many linear leaves, bracts lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla 10-17 mm long. Achenes cylindric, 4.5×0.8 mm, 10 ribbed, glabrous. Pappus white, 7-10 mm long. Chromosome number, 2n = 20 (Peng & Hsu, 1978).

TAIPEI: Tatunshan, Shen 305; Peichatienshan, Peng 10114. TAOYUAN: Lalashan, Peng 14657. MIAOLI: Kuanwu, Peng 8429. TAICHUNG: Lishan, Ho 283; Tashsuehshan Forest Track, Yang 6369. NANTOU: Chitou, Leu 375; Chingjing Farm, Peng 6109. CHIAYI: Tienyunshan, Peng 8846. KAOHSIUNG: Tengchih, Peng 14786. PINGTUNG: Wutai, Lin 357; Wuweishan, Yang 4520. HUALIEN: Tzuen, Peng 5978.

Nepal, Thailand and China. Taiwan, local nearly throughout the island, at low and more often mid elevations, usually along road cuts in forests.

Gynura japonica is not a native of Japan as suggested by the specific epithet. The type specimen is from a plant cultivated in Japan.