Stems ±erect, 6-15 dm, simple or branched above, densely villous; petioles 2-5 mm, shorter than the stalk of the terminal lfl; lfls to 4.5 נ1.8 cm, variable in shape and pubescence, usually appressed-hairy on both sides or glabrous above; heads numerous, forming a thyrsoid infl, subglobose to short-ovoid, 12-25 mm, with very many, densely crowded fls; peduncles usually shorter than the subtending lvs and rarely longer than the heads; fls 8-12 mm, ochroleucous; cal- lobes villous, 6-10 mm; fr pubescent, conspicuously shorter than the cal; 2n=20. Open dry woods, sand- dunes, and prairies; Me. and s. Que. to Minn. and S.D., s. to Ga., w. Fla., and Tex. July-Sept. (L. c. var. stenophylla, the narrow-lvd extreme; L. velutina, the form with spreading-hairy lvs)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
Infrequent throughout the area indicated on the map in dry, sandy soil along roadsides and railroads and in open woodland. This is essentially a prairie plant and is found more frequently in prairie habitats. [Deam's var. velutina] is an extreme form with velutinous leaflets and has the same habitat and range as those of the species. I have specimens from Allen and Pulaski Counties.