Fibrous-rooted perennial 3-9 dm, often with slender, stoloniform rhizomes, ±silvery-silky with appressed hairs, at least below; lvs basally disposed, the larger ones elongate, parallel-veined, grass-like, to 35 × 2(-3.5) cm, the others numerous and progressively reduced; heads several or many, terminating the branches, turbinate or campanulate; achenes linear. Sandy, usually dry places; Del. to s. O., s. to Fla., Bahama Isl., Tex., and Guat. Aug., Sept. Two well marked vars. with us:
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.