Perennials (or functionally annuals), 1-3(-8+) dm (stems sometimes rooting at proximal nodes). Leaves cauline; sessile or petiolate, petioles ± winged; blades ovate to obovate, lanceolate, or linear, bases ± cuneate, margins toothed, apices acute, abaxial faces usually ± hirtellous to strigillose or tomentose, sometimes nearly glabrous, adaxial faces sparsely scabrellous or glabrate, both usually resin-gland-dotted. Heads discoid (pedunculate, each subtended by 3-8+, ± foliaceous bracts), borne singly. Involucres ± hemispheric, 6-12(-18+) mm diam. Phyllaries 24-50+ in 4-8+ series, each proximally firm, distally ± scarious, the outer ovate to deltate or lanceolate, inner oblong to lanceolate, margins entire, tips rounded to acute, usually apiculate to seta-tipped or attenuate-spinose, abaxial faces glabrous or sparsely strigillose to tomentose and usually ± resin-gland-dotted distally. Florets 30-50(-100+); corollas usually lavender to purplish (rarely white), tubes longer than funnelform throats, lobes 5, lance-linear, ± equal. Cypselae ± columnar to plumply clavate, 8-10-ribbed, glabrous, often resin-gland-dotted; pappi caducous, of 20-40 lance-linear to subulate scales. x = 16.