Plants robust. Involucres turbinate, 8-12 mm. Phyllaries in 5-7 series, appressed, obtuse, densely strigillose to canescent, eglandular or sparsely glandular; mid 1.2-1.7 mm wide. 2 n = 20.

Flowering late Aug-early Nov. Dry oak-hickory woodlands; 0-1000+ m; Ark., Ill., Kans., Ky., La., Miss., Mo., Okla., Tex.

Variety patentissimum is found mostly west of the Mississippi River, in the Interior Uplands of the eastern United States. It is similar to the typical variety except for the involucre, which is usually 8-12 mm with more phyllaries in more series. Intermediates occur with var. patens.