Herbs, perennial, rarely subshrubs; rhizome short to long or woody caudex. Stems decumbent to ascending or erect. Leaves basal (persistent or not by anthesis) and cauline, alternate, sessile or petiolate, blade ovate to broadly to narrowly lanceolate. Capitula usually small, radiate, numerous in terminal racemiform, paniculiform, or corymbose-paniculiform synflorescences. Involucre narrowly campanulate to ± cylindric; phyllaries 3-5-seriate, imbricate or subequal, linear-lanceolate, deltate, or oblong, herbaceous, margin scarious, apex rounded to obtuse or acute to attenuate. Receptacles slightly convex, alveolate, naked. Florets fertile; ray florets female, 1-seriate, usually yellow, usually glabrous, apex inconspicuously 2- or 3-denticulate; disk florets bisexual, yellow turning brown with age, tubular, limb expanded or narrow, apex 5-denticulate; anther base obtuse; style branches flattened, appendage lanceolate. Achenes obconic to cylindric, sometimes ± laterally compressed, glabrous or moderately strigillose, 8-10-ribbed. Pappus of outer short setiform scales rarely present, and 2 series of 25-45 fine, persistent, long, barbellate bristles, mid series 90%-95% length of inner, apically attenuate, inner apically very weakly to moderately clavate.

About 120 species: mainly in North America, a few species in Asia, Europe, and South America; six species (three introduced) in China.

(Authors: Chen Yilin (陈艺林 Chen Yi-ling); John C. Semple)