Cauline leaves: distal slightly overlapping, linear-lanceolate, reduced distally, 15-20 × 4.5-10 mm. Heads 8-50. Peduncles sericeous. Involucres 4.5-7 mm. Phyllary faces (inner) sparsely to moderately sericeous proximally, densely stipitate-glandular apically. Ray florets 6-15; laminae 7-10 mm. Disc florets 16-29; corollas 3.2-5.2, lobes 0.5-0.7 mm, glabrous. 2n = 18.

Flowering fall. Outer coastal plain; 0-60 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Variety graminifolia is similar to var. tenuifolia in its reduced distal cauline leaves, sericeous peduncles, and small involucres (4.5-8 mm). Hybrids between var. tenuifolia and Pityopsis aspera var. adenolepis could be confused with var. graminifolia.