Herbs, perennial, caulescent. Stem solitary, erect, sulcate, unwinged. Leaves subentire to pinnatipartite, with spiny or spinulose teeth or segments. Capitula large, few (sometimes only 1), terminal on stem and branches. Involucre campanulate. Phyllaries numerous, abaxially with appressed tortuous blackish hairs and often white cobwebby, with membranous wings or appendage. Receptacle flat, with dense long bristles. Corolla yellow [or purple]. Stamen filaments glabrous or papillose; anther tails long, subentire to lacerate. Style branches short, apex rounded. Achene narrowly obovoid to narrowly ellipsoid, laterally compressed, often with 12-20 thin inconspicuous ribs, otherwise smooth; apical rim forming a low crown; apical plate with a central pyramidal body of sclerenchyma crowned by a stout disk. Pappus of 3-5 rows of barbellate bristles, outer ones ca. 1/2 as long as inner ones, inner ones gradually wider and flattened.

Six species: C Asia; five species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: Shi Zhu (石铸 Shih Chu); Werner Greuter)