Description

Annual herbs (in ours). Lower leaves opposite, the upper alternate. Leaves petiolate, ovate, crenate-serrate. Capitula several-flowered in a dense corymb or occasionally a lax panicle, homogamous, discoid. Involucre campanulate. Phyllaries 2-3-seriate, subequal, with membranous margins. Receptacular scales 0. Flowers blue, purple (rarely pink) or white. Anthers with an oblong apical appendage. Pappus usually of 5 fimbriate or lacerate scales, extended into scabrid awns.