Plants (6-)18-45(-85) cm. Leaves: basal spatulate to obovate, acute, margins dentate, sometimes crenate ; cauline (3-)12-33(-58) , proximal lanceolate to narrowly spatulate, (25-)45-94(-112) × (2-)3.7-9.5(-17) mm, margins entire or dentate, rarely serrate; mid to distal 5-24 (-50) × (0.8-)1.1-3.3(-8.0) mm. Peduncles: bracteoles 2+. Phyllaries: shortest (1.2-)1.6-2.4(-2.9) mm. Cypselae sparsely strigose. 2n = 36.

Flowering Aug-Sep. Calcareous rocks, ledges and cliffs along rivers; 10-300+ m; N.B., Que.; Maine, Md., N.Y., Pa., Vt., W.Va.

Variety racemosa is found as rare disjunct populations.