An annual soft pilose herbaceous plant grows to between 20 and 80 cm in height. Stem straight, strong and branched. Leaves crenate-toothed; petiole latiheart shaped; both sides of the blade are densely covered with apressed hairs and spotted glands. Anthodium (female heads) consists of two filiform flowers included in a sac-like united spathe that has asmall hooked prickles on the outside. During fruiting, the spathe is ovate or ellipsoidal with two small erect beaks.

Anodyne

A decoction of the ripe burr is used for treating headache due to rhinorrhea and stuffed nose with nasal discharge, arthritis with spasms and hives with itching.

Large doses may result in symptoms of toxicity, including abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 658, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.