Cauline leaves: distal slightly overlapping, linear-lanceolate, reduced distally, 15–20 × 4.5–10 mm. Heads 8–50. Peduncles sericeous. Involucres 4.5–7 mm. Phyllary faces (inner) sparsely to moderately sericeous proximally, densely stipitate-glandular apically. Ray florets 6–15; laminae 7–10 mm. Disc florets 16–29; corollas 3.2–5.2, lobes 0.5–0.7 mm, glabrous. 2n = 18.

Flowering fall. Outer coastal plain; 0–60 m; Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Variety graminifolia is similar to var. tenuifolia in its reduced distal cauline leaves, sericeous peduncles, and small involucres (4.5–8 mm). Hybrids between var. tenuifolia and Pityopsis aspera var. adenolepis could be confused with var. graminifolia.