Stem erect, 57-90 cm tall, 3.5-6 mm in diam. at base, proximally glabrous, distally sparsely white arachnoid-puberulent and shortly yellowish brown pilose. Basal leaves petiolate; petiole 20-49 cm, shortly yellowish brown pilose, abaxially with prominent palmate veins, base narrowly long sheathed; leaf blade broadly ovate or reniform, 8.5-13 × 10.5-22 cm, abaxially shortly pilose, adaxially glabrous, margin coarsely dentate, apex rounded, mucronate; sinus ca. 1/3 as long as leaf blade, broad; basal lobes oblong, 6-8 × 6.5-9 cm. Middle stem leaves shortly petiolate; sheath enlarged, densely shortly pilose; leaf blade reniform-cordate, to 8 × 14 cm. Synflorescence racemose, 10-40 cm, lax, spreading; leaflike bracts purplish red, yellowish red when dry, ovate-lanceolate, to 3 × ca. 1 cm, smaller distally, membranous, apex caudate-acuminate; peduncles unequal, proximal peduncles to 5 cm, shorter distally, shortly yellow pilose. Capitula numerous; supplementary bracts ovate-lanceolate, as long as involucre, submembranous. Involucre shallowly cupular, 7-8 × 8-10 mm, base truncate, outside sparsely shortly pilose; phyllaries 9-13, in 2 rows, broadly oblong, to 4 mm, apex acute; inner phyllaries broadly membranous at margin. Ray florets yellow; lamina oblong, 8-10 × 2-3.5 mm; tube ca. 3 mm. Tubular florets numerous, 6.5-8 mm; tube 2-3 mm; limb cuneate. Achenes brown, cylindric, 4-6 mm. Pappus yellowish, as long as tubular corolla. Fl. Jul-Aug.

● Stream banks, valleys, grassy slopes; 3000-4000 m. NW Yunnan.