Plant: Robust annual forb to 3 m in moist areas; stems erect, ± rough-hairy Leaves: leaves opposite below, alternate above, scabrous, deltoid, petiolate, long-petioled; blade 10-40 cm, base generally ± cordate, tip obtuse to acute, margin serrate Inflorescence: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads generally few-many; peduncles 2-20 cm; involucre 1.5-3(20) cm diam; phyllaries 15-25 mm, lanceolate to widely ovate, abruptly acuminate, glabrous to rough-hairy, generally ciliate; chaff scales deeply 3-lobed, middle lobe long-acuminate Flowers: Ray flowers 15-many, sterile; ligule generally > 2.5 cm, yellow; Disk flowers: many, corollas 5-8 mm, lobes red to purple or yellow, tube short, throat base often swollen, lobes triangular; style appendages triangular Fruit: achenes, 3-15 mm, oblanceolate to obovate, ± compressed; sides rounded; pappus scales 2-3.5 mm Misc: Disturbed areas, scrub, many other habitats; < 1900 m.; Jul-Oct References: J.C. Hickman, ed. The Jepson Manual. W.D. McDougal. Seed plants of Northern Arizona. ASU specimens.