Vernonia acaulis

Plants 4-6(-10) dm. Stems ± puberulent, glabrescent. Leaves mostly basal; blades oblong-elliptic to spatulate (basal, the distal narrower), 11-25(-30) cm × (21-)60-75+ mm, l/w = 2-4(-5+), abaxially usually glabrous or glabrate, sometimes hirsutulous on veins, usually resin-gland-dotted, adaxially ± scabrellous or glabrate. Heads in loose, corymbiform arrays. Peduncles 5-50 mm. Involucres campanulate to hemispheric, 5-10 × 6-7 mm. Phyllaries 40-60 in 5-6 series, glabrate, margins ciliolate, the outer lance-linear, 2-4 mm, inner lance-ovate to lance-subulate, 5-9 mm, tips subulate to filiform. Florets 30-40(-55+). Cypselae 2.5-3+ mm; pappi whitish to stramineous, outer scales ca. 20, 0.6-1 mm, contrasting with 25-40, 5-7+ mm inner bristles. 2n = 34.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Open woods, pine savannas, bogs, disturbed places; 10-300 m; Fla., Ga., N.C., S.C.