Annual, 25–100 cm tall, branched herbs, with rigid, nodal trifid spines at the base of leaves, spines yellow, 1.5–2.5 cm long. Stem pubescent, younger part of stem green, woolly. Leaves simple, whorled or opposite, linear to lanceolate, upper leaves undivided, lower usually 3–lobed, on 3–10 mm long petiole, lamina 2.5–3.5 cm long, discolourous, adaxial surface dark green, ± pubescent, white tomentose abaxially. Male capitula small, 5–6 mm across, discoid, green, 5–7 flowered. Phyllaries 2–seriate, outer ones 6–7, lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm long, green, pubescent, acute, inner ones 6–7, lanceolate to ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, green, pubescent acute. Receptacle paleate, paleae oblanceolate to spathulate, 2–2.5 mm long, hairy. Functionally staminate florets 2.8–3 mm long with rudimentary stigma, style and ovary. Corolla tubular, creamy yellow, 5–lobed, anthers exerted. Female capitula usually solitary, 6–15 mm long, 2 – flowered, phyllaries 2–seriate, outer phyllaries 5–7, green,  4–6 mm long, inner ones united, enclosing the female florets, spiny, spines numerous, 1.5–2 mm long, reaching upto ca 2.5 mm long on maturity, golden brown, 2–beaked. Female florets 4–6 mm with bifid, exserted stigma.  Cypselas enclosed by hooked, spiny phyllaries (burs), burs 12–15 mm long, ca 5 mm wide, cypselas black, ± glabrous, epappose, sometimes with occasional bristles.