Maral (Rhaponticum Carthamoides) is a large perennial up to 1.5 m or more (1.8 m) in height, with a woody, horizontal black rhizome, with numerous thin elastic roots. The stem is up straight, unbranched, hollow. The leaves are dark green, alternate, elliptical or oblong-ovate. The flowers are small, purple-violet or pink, collected in single apical, large, almost spherical inflorescences. The fruit is a tetrahedral achene with a crest of cirrus bristles. Wild flowering time is July-August. The fruits ripen in August-September.