Annuals, 20-80 cm. Stems usually 1, branched distally, narrowly winged, sparsely hairy proximally, moderately hairy distally. Leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy (basal withered by flowering); proximal blades lance-linear, usually coarsely or irregularly laciniate; mid and distal blades lance-linear to linear, entire. Heads 5-50(-100+) per plant, in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 2-8 cm, sparsely to moderately hairy. Involucres globose to slightly ovoid, 6-11(-13) × 6-11(-13) mm. Phyllaries moderately hairy. Ray florets 8-9, pistillate, fertile; corollas yellow throughout or red proximally and yellow distally or red throughout, 6-12 × 3-8 mm. Disc florets 150-300(-500+); corollas yellow-green proximally, brown to purple distally, 2.5-3.2 mm, lobes 5. Cypselae 1-1.2 mm, moderately hairy; pappi of 6(-7) entire, aristate scales 2-2.5 mm. 2n = 28.

Flowering (Feb-)Mar-May(-Jul). Sandy soils, ditches, open pastures, edges of ponds and streams; 10-200 m; Tex.