Cauline leaves slightly overlapping, linear-lanceolate, 40-70 × 2-5 mm, reduced distally. Involucres 4.5-8 mm. Phyllary faces (inner) usually sparsely to moderately, rarely densely sericeous throughout, sometimes sparsely glandular distally. Ray florets 8-12; laminae 4-7 mm. Disc florets 15-28; corollas 4.5-6 mm, lobes 0.4-0.7 mm, glabrous. 2n = 18.

Flowering early fall-spring (Fla.). Sandy soils, open oak-pine woods, scrub, roadsides; 0-300 m; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tex.

Variety tenuifolia grows on the outer coastal plain from east Texas to North Carolina, and inland to the southern Ozark Plateau. Involucres of some Texas plants are larger than those further east. It is unknown whether such plants are diploid or tetraploid.