Stem erect, usually branched, 2-6 dm, pubescent with incurved hairs, often also ±hirsute; petioles commonly much exceeding the bracts that they subtend and a third to half as long as the blades, or shorter in depauperate plants; blades lance-ovate, shallowly crenate; pistillate bracts 8-14 mm, deeply cleft into (9)10-15 oblong to linear acute segments, usually with some long, spreading hairs; staminate spikes equaling or slightly surpassing the bracts; 2n=40. Dry or moist open woods, fields and roadsides; Me. to Ind. and se. S.D., s. to Fla. and Tex.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam

Mostly in dry soil on open wooded slopes, associated with black and white oak, in fallow fields, and along roadsides. Rather frequent in the unglaciated area and rapidly migrating northward.

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Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 0

Wetland Indicator Status: FACU

Diagnostic Traits: Bracts 9-15 lobed, lacking stipitate glands; petioles <0.5 as long as blade.

For faunal associates see https://Illinois Wildflowers