Perennials, 50-200 cm. Stems (from short caudices) single, branched distally, puberulent throughout (lateral buds often develop fertile and infertile branches). Leaves opposite (proximal) or alternate (lateral buds dormant or producing 1 pair of leaves); sessile; blades (often pinnately or ternately lobed) or lobes pinnately nerved, linear, 20-80 × 0.5-2.5(-4) mm, bases cuneate, margins entire, apices acuminate, faces puberulent, gland-dotted. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Phyllaries 7-10 in 2-3 series, (sometimes purple) elliptic to oblong, 1-3 × 0.5-0.8 mm, (margins hyaline) apices acuminate and mucronate, abaxial faces puberulent (mostly on midveins), usually gland-dotted. Florets 5; corollas (sometimes with purple throats) 2.5-3 mm. Cypselae 1-1.7 mm; pappi of 20-30 bristles 3-3.5 mm. 2n = 20.

Flowering Aug-Oct. Open or slightly shaded, wet sites, sand dunes, disturbed areas, roadsides, flatwoods; 10-200+ m; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Miss., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.