Proximal midcauline leaf blades broadly lanceolate, sparsely hairy. 2n = 18, 36, 54.

Flowering (late Aug-)Sep-Oct. Shaded mesic woods and thickets, mostly Appalachian Mountains; 300-1200+ m; Ga., Ky., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Sparsely hairy plants of var. curtisii tend to have narrower leaves. They are most common at mid to high elevations in the Appalachian and Blue Ridge mountains.