Perennial herbs or undershrubs, 1–2 m tall, stem erect, branched, somewhat brownish or purple red, puberulent to hairy. Leaves opposite, on 0.5–1 cm long petioles; usually palmately 3–5 lobed, lobes lanceolate or ovate lanceolate, central one larger than the lateral lobes, 7–10 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide, acuminate, margins incised–crenate, not undulate. Capitula many, 2–2.5 mm across in terminal, compound corymbs. Phyllaries 3–seriate, imbricate, purplish red, outer shorter than inner ones, ovate–broadly ovate, inner ones elliptic. Florets white–reddish tinged. Cypselas black, ca 3.5 mm long, 5–angled, with yellow glands. Pappus white, ca 5 mm long.