Plants 5-10+ dm. Stems sparsely appressed-puberulent, glabrescent. Leaves mostly cauline; blades (mid stem) lance-linear to filiform, 5-12 cm × 2-4(-8+) mm, l/w = (8-)12-30(-60+), abaxially glabrous but for scattered hairs on midribs or scabrellous (hairs awl-shaped), resin-gland-dotted or not, adaxially scabrellous. Heads in ± corymbiform to paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 8-25 mm. Involucres ± campanulate to obconic, 5-7(-10) × 4-6(-9) mm. Phyllaries 22-45+ in 5-6 series, sparsely scabrellous, glabrescent, margins ciliolate, the outer lanceolate to subulate, 1.5-3 mm, inner lance-ovate to lanceolate, 5-9+ mm, tips acuminate to subulate. Florets 12-20(-30). Cypselae 2.5-3 mm; pappi stramineous to purplish, outer scales 25-30, 0.5-1.2+ mm, contrasting with 35-40+, 5.5-6+ mm inner bristles. 2n = 34.

Flowering Jun-Aug. Pine barrens, oak woodlands; 10-50 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.