HABIT	AN ERECT OR SUBSCANDENT ANNUAL HERB UP TO 1M HIGH.
STEMS	GLABROUS TO SPARSELY STRIGOSE AND SCABROUS, HERBACEOUS, BRANCHING, ERECT, WITH MILKY SAP, FROM A MASSIVE TAPROOT.
LEAVES	ALTERNATE. BASAL LEAVES LYRATE PINNATIFID, 30 CM LONG, 6 CM WIDE, DENTATE, PUBESCENT ABOVE AND BELOW, HIRSUTE ON MIDRIB BELOW. CAULINE LEAVES LANCEOLATE TO LINEAR, CLASPING, ENTIRE, MUCH REDUCED.
FLOWERS	INFLORESCENCE – TYPICALLY 1-3 AXILLARY FLOWERS IN UPPER PORTION OF STEMS. SOME FLOWERS TERMINAL. LOWER FLOWERS WITH REDUCED LEAF (BRACT) SUBTENDING. UPPER FLOWERS WITH NO BRACT OR BRACT REDUCED AND SCALELIKE. BLUE TO LILAC.
FRUITS	ACHENES -2MM LONG; PAPPUS OF SHORT SCALES.