Herbs, perennial, 70-120(-150) cm tall, glandular and eglandular pubescent. Lower and middle stem leaves: petiole 5-20 mm; leaf blade ovate or elliptic, (5-)7-12(-19) × 6-10 cm, abaxially gray arachnoid tomentose, sometimes glabrescent, glandular pubescent on veins, adaxially densely glandular pubescent, 1- or 2-pinnatipartite or subpinnatisect; segments 4 or 5(or 6) pairs, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 2.5-5(-6) × (1-)1.5-2.5(-3) cm; lobules 2 or 3 pairs, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, 10-15(-20) × 3-5 mm, occasionally with 1 or 2 serrations, apex mucronulate; rachis winged. Uppermost leaves pinnatipartite; segments 3 or 4 pairs; leaflike bracts 3-5-lobed or entire. Synflorescence a broad, much-branched panicle. Capitula many. Involucre oblong-ovoid or oblong, 1.5-2.5(-3) mm in diam.; phyllaries sparsely arachnoid puberulent or glabrescent. Marginal female florets 3-5. Disk florets 4-6, bisexual. Achenes obovoid or oblong. Fl. and fr. Aug-Nov.

Slopes, roadsides, shrublands, cultivated fields, thickets, forests, rocky riverbanks, ravines; 800-3500 m. S Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Qinghai, S Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, N Myanmar, Nepal, N Thailand].