Indian globe thistle is an erect branched herb about 100 cm high.

It has short, stout stems, branching from the base, covered with white cottony hair.

Alternately arranged oblong, deeply pinnatifid leaves are 7–12 cm long.

An antiinflammatory active flavanone glycoside 5,7-dihydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyflavanone-5-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-7-O-b-D-arabinopyranosyl-(1®4)-O-b-D-glucopyranoside A along with a known compound dihydroquercetin-4'-Me ether is also reported from the leaves of Echinops echinatus.

Echinopsidine, a potential MAOI, is found in this species along with the related alkaloids echinopsine and echinozolinone.