Verbesina laciniata Walter, V. virginica var. laciniata A. Gray (based on V. laciniata Nuttall, not Walter)

Plants (50–)100–250+ cm (perennating bases ± erect, internodes winged, at least proximal). Leaves all or mostly alternate (proximal sometimes opposite); blades lance-ovate or lance-elliptic to lance-linear, 5–12(–22+) × 1–6(–12+) cm, sometimes pinnately lobed, bases ± cuneate, ultimate margins usually coarsely toothed to subentire, sometimes sinuate, apices acute, faces ± scabrellous to strigillose. Heads (20–)60–100+ in corymbiform to paniculiform arrays. Involucres ± obconic to turbinate, 3–5 mm diam. Phyllaries 8–12+ in 1–2 series, ± erect, spatulate to oblanceolate, 2.5–5(–7) mm. Ray florets (1–)2–3(–7); laminae 3–4(–7+) mm. Disc florets 8–12(–15); corollas ochroleucous or white. Cypselae dark brown to blackish, oblanceolate, 3.5–5+ mm, faces ± scabrellous; pappi 1.5–3+ mm. 2n = 32, 34.

Flowering (Jul–)Sep–Oct(–Dec). Bottomlands, flood plains, thickets, borders of woodlands, disturbed sites; 10–300 m; Ala., Ark., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Kans., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Plants of Verbesina virginica from near the Atlantic Coast with margins of some or most leaf blades sinuate to pinnately 3–5(–7+)-lobed have been called V. laciniata or V. virginica var. laciniata.