Plants 10–20+ dm. Stems glabrous. Leaves mostly cauline; blades ± lanceolate, 10–25(–30+) cm × 15–35(–60+) mm, l/w = 5–7+, abaxially puberulous, not resin-gland-dotted, adaxially scabrellous, glabrescent, not resin-gland-dotted. Heads in paniculi-form-scorpioid arrays. Peduncles 1–8(–15) mm. Involucres broadly campanulate to hemispheric, 4–5+ × 4–5 mm. Phyllaries 30–45+ in 5–6 series, glabrescent, margins ciliolate, the outer lance-ovate, 1–3 mm, inner lance-oblong to oblong, 3.5–5 mm, tips rounded. Florets 15–25+. Cypselae 3–3.5 mm; pappi stramineous to whitish, outer scales 25–35, 0.8–1.1 mm, contrasting with 35–45+, 5–6+ mm inner bristles. 2n = 34.

Flowering Aug. Disturbed places in woodlands; 90–400 m; Ala., Ga., Tenn.