Plants (1–)3–6+ dm. Leaves mostly basal at flowering; blades usually obovate to oblanceolate or spatulate (rarely ± orbiculate), 3–8(–10+) cm × 4–12(–25+) mm (including petioles), abaxial faces ± densely pilose, adaxial sparsely pilose to hirsute. Bracts rounded-cordate, 8–15(–20+) × 7–15(–18+) mm. Inner phyllaries 9–11+ mm, pilosulous, hairs 0.3–0.6(–0.9) mm. Cypselae (3–)4–5 mm; pappi 6–8 mm. 2n = 22.

Flowering Aug–Sep. Open or shaded, dry to wet places in pine forests and mixed forests, often on sandy soils; 10–600 m; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Md., Miss., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.; Mexico (probably introduced).