Plants 8–40 cm high from a basal rosette. Taproot fusiform with fibrous roots. Stem green. Basal leaves numerous; petiole short or obsolete, sheath up to 3 cm; blade lanceolate or oblanceolate, entire, 5–25 × 1.2–4 cm, venation pinnately reticulate, base cuneate to decurrent, apex obtuse, callous-margined, crenate to finely spinulose-serrate. Upper leaves sessile, opposite deeply spinulose-serrate to parted. Inflorescence divaricately trifurcate; lateral branches often continuing to form a monochasium, heads numerous, short-pedunculate. Flower heads cylindrical, 5–12 × 3–5 mm; bracts 4–7, foliaceous, lanceolate, 1.5–3.5 × 0.4–1 cm, spreading to reflexed, margin 1–3-spinulose-serrate; bracteoles lanceolate, 1.5–1.8 × ca. 0.6 mm, brightly scarious-margined. Calyx teeth ovate-lanceolate, 0.5–1 mm, acute, equaling petals. Petals white or pale yellow. Styles erect, ca. 1.1 mm, exceeding calyx teeth. Fruit ovoid-globose, 1.1–1.3 mm, covered with tubercles. Fl. and fr. Apr–Dec.

The leaves are used as a flavoring (similar to Coriandrum sativum), and the species has reputed medicinal value.

Forests, stream banks, moist places, roadsides; 100–1500 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [native to Central America; now a widespread weed in tropical and subtropical regions].