Stems (robust) 60-150 cm, coarsely hispid (10-70 hairs/mm ² ) (hairs stiff). Leaves: basal large, to 250 × 100 mm; faces moderately to densely hispid (7-50 hairs/mm ² ); mid to distal ovate, thick. Heads usually in loose, open, spreading, flat-topped arrays, 3-20(-34) × (4.5-)6.5-18(-27) cm. Peduncles densely hispido-strigose. Phyllaries: outer hairy; inner oblong to slightly spatulate, 0.8-1.4 mm wide, glabrate to puberulent. Disc corolla lobes deep, 1.1-1.6 mm. Cypselae glabrous. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering Aug-Oct. Prairies, glades, oak savannas, dry open areas especially on calcareous soils, disturbed grounds (railroads, etc.); 0-400+ m; Ont.; Ark., Conn., Del., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Md., Mass., Mich., Mo., Nebr., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Wis.

From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam

Infrequent in prairie and decadent prairie habitats in northern Indiana and very local in southern Indiana in similar habitats. Now found mostly along roads and railroads.

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Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 7

Wetland Indicator Status: FACU