Annuals (rarely persisting), 20-60(-100+) cm. Stems usually erect. Leaves: petioles 0-2 mm; blades lance-linear to linear, 12-25(-45) × 1-4(-7+) mm, margins entire, faces scabrellous to hispidulous, gland-dotted. Heads in ± spiciform arrays. Peduncles 0-1 mm. Involucres ± prismatically turbinate, 2.5-3 mm. Phyllaries: outer 3-5 ± connate, ± herbaceous. Paleae linear, 1.5-2 mm. Pistillate florets 0-2+; corollas 0.3-0.8+ mm. Functionally staminate florets 2-5+; corollas 1.5-2 mm. Cypselae 2-3 mm. 2n = 32.

Flowering Sep-Nov. Disturbed sites, moist soils; 0-300 m; Ark, Fla., Kans., La., Okla., Tex.