Erect perennial 30-60 cm tall, aromatic (smell of turpentine), branched herbs. Stem usually not winged. Leaves ovate to obovate, 2-12 x 1-5 (-6) cm, lyrately or pinnately lobed, with a cuneate or narrow base or sometimes lobed to the base; lobes decurrent, 6-8 x 4-5 mm. Capitula 7-9 mm in diameter; phyllaries 3-6 (-7) mm, outer lanceoalate, inner linear, glandular. Florets purple, 4-6 mm long. Cypselas dark red-brown, c. 1 mm obscurely ribbed, sparsely hairy, pappus white, 4-4.5 mm long.