Annuals, 100–300 cm tall, usually hispid. Leaves on 2–20 cm long petiole, mostly alternate, lanceolate–ovate, 6–40 cm long, 2–8 cm wide, with cuneate to subcordate or cordate base, margins serrate–dentate, ± hirsute on either side, sometimes gland dotted with a variable base, cuneate, cordate. Capitula 1–9, large, upto 30 cm across on 2–24 cm long peduncles, arranged in open corymbs. Involucre hemispherical. Phyllaries 20–60, ovate to lanceolate–ovate, 1.2–2.8 cm long, (0.5–) 5 or 8 cm wide, with usually ciliate margins, apices abruptly narrowed, long–acuminate. Receptacle almost flat, paleae 9–11 mm long, 3–toothed. Ray florets dark yellow, ligule (2–) 2.5–3.5 (–4) cm long. Disc florets numerous, brownish, tubular, corolla with bulbous base, 5–8 mm long, lobes usually brownish, sometimes yellow. Anthers dark brownish to black with yellow or dark appendages. Style branches yellow. Cypselas obovoid or cuneate, usually laterally compressed, ribbed, (4–) 5–10 (–15) mm long, hairy, variously coloured, white, grey or black, stripped or molted. Pappus of 2 aristate, 2–3.5 mm long scales, smaller scales (squamellae) deltate, 0.5–1 mm long.