Annuals, 20-50+ cm; taprooted (caudices ascending to erect). Stems 1 or 2-6+, clustered (bases cyanic), glabrous or leaf axils sparsely tomentose. Basal leaves (and proximal cauline) petiolate; blades oblanceolate to spatulate (usually pinnately lobed, lateral lobes 1-6+ pairs, their bases petioluliform, terminal lobes usually larger than laterals, often reniform to ± orbiculate, midribs sometimes ± winged and/or toothed between the primary lobes), 40-120+ × 10-30+ mm, bases ± cuneate, ultimate margins subentire or irregularly crenate, dentate, or lobed. Cauline leaves gradually reduced (± petiolate or sessile, clasping; often auriculate, pinnately dissected to pinnately lobed). Heads 4-25+ in corymbiform arrays. Peduncles bracteate, glabrous. Calyculi incon-spicuous or 0. Phyllaries 13 or 21, green (tips sometimes reddish), 3-7 mm, glabrous. Ray florets 8 or 13; corolla laminae 3-7 mm. Disc florets 30-45(-100+); corolla tubes 1.5-2.5 mm, limbs (1.5-)2.5-3.5 mm. Cypselae 1-1.5 mm, hirtellous on ribs; pappi 3-5 mm. 2n = 46.
Packera tampicana is fairly widespread along the Gulf Coastal Plain and north and in Mexico. Morphologically, P. tampicana most closely resembles P. glabella; the former grows in very wet, sandy or clay soils and open sunlight, the latter grows in drier habitats, usually in partial shade.
