Herbage glabrous. Distal cauline leaf blades lanceolate, somewhat reduced distally. Heads in compact to lax pyramidal arrays, branches divergent and recurved arrays. Rays florets 5-12. 2n = 18, 54.

Flowering Aug-Oct. Sandy and boggy soils, cedar woods and wet ground; 0-100+ m; N.S.; Conn., Maine, Mass., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Pa., R.I., S.C., Va.

Variety sphagnophila is a distinctive cedar-swamp race in its pure form. Intermediates with var. rugosa occur in areas of sympatry.