Plants 30–45(–80) cm. Stems proximally piloso-hirsute (hairs 2–4+ mm), sometimes stellate-pubescent as well, distally stellate-pubescent, sometimes piloso-hirsute as well. Leaves: basal 0(–2+), cauline (3–)6–12+; blades elliptic or obovate to oblanceolate, 20–35(–90) × 10–40(–50) mm, lengths 2–4+ times widths, bases cuneate to rounded (sometimes ± clasping), margins entire, apices rounded to acute, abaxial faces piloso-hirsute (hairs 2–4 mm) and stellate-pubescent, adaxial piloso-hirsute. Heads (5–)25–50 in usually narrow, thyrsiform arrays (lengths of arrays usually 3–6+ times diams., sometimes shorter). Peduncles stellate-pubescent and stipitate-glandular. Calyculi: bractlets 8–12+. Involucres cylindric to campanulate, 7–10 mm. Phyllaries 12–15+, apices rounded to acute or acuminate, abaxial faces glabrous or stellate-pubescent, rarely stipitate-glandular as well. Florets 12–20+; corollas yellow, 8–9+ mm. Cypselae urceolate, 3.5–4.5+ mm; pappi of ca. 40+, stramineous bristles in 2+ series, ca. 5 mm.

Flowering (Mar–)Jul–Sep(–Oct). Openings in pine and pine-oak woods, bogs, sands; 30–600 m; Ont.; Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.; Mexico, Central America.