Herbs, perennial, dioecious, stemless. Taproot crowned by a thick woody stock. Leaves all basal, tufted, petiolate; leaf blade leathery, pinnately divided; segments spiny. Flowering scapes lateral, axillary, short. Capitulum solitary, homogamous, female or functionally male. Receptacle naked. Male florets small; female florets larger, with staminodes. Anthers basally with long filiform tails. Pappus elements of two types; inner pappus of distinct scabrid bristles; outer pappus shorter, of few slender tortuous hairs.

One species: China, Mongolia.