Plants (1–)3–8(–12+) dm. Leaves mostly cauline at flowering; blades broadly elliptic or ovate to lanceolate, 6–12(–18+) cm × 30–80(–120+) mm (including petioles), both faces sparsely pilose to hirsute. Bracts rounded-deltate to lance-deltate, (5–)10–15(–25+) × (4–)6–12+ mm. Inner phyllaries 8–10 mm, sparsely hispidulous to pilosulous, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm. Cypselae 2.5–4 mm; pappi 4–5 mm. 2n = 22.

Flowering Aug–Sep(–Oct). Open or shaded, damp to wet places in pine forests and mixed forests, often on sandy soils; 10–700 m; Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.