Vernonia flaccidifolia

Plants 10-20+ dm. Stems glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; blades ± lanceolate, 10-25(-30+) cm × 15-35(-60+) mm, l/w = 5-7+, abaxially puberulous, not resin-gland-dotted, adaxially scabrellous, glabrescent, not resin-gland-dotted. Heads in paniculi-form-scorpioid arrays. Peduncles 1-8(-15) mm. Involucres broadly campanulate to hemispheric, 4-5+ × 4-5 mm. Phyllaries 30-45+ in 5-6 series, glabrescent, margins ciliolate, the outer lance-ovate, 1-3 mm, inner lance-oblong to oblong, 3.5-5 mm, tips rounded. Florets 15-25+. Cypselae 3-3.5 mm; pappi stramineous to whitish, outer scales 25-35, 0.8-1.1 mm, contrasting with 35-45+, 5-6+ mm inner bristles. 2n = 34.

Flowering Aug. Disturbed places in woodlands; 90-400 m; Ala., Ga., Tenn.