Perennials, 50–200 cm. Stems (from short caudices) single, branched distally, puberulent throughout (lateral buds often develop fertile and infertile branches). Leaves opposite (proximal) or alternate (lateral buds dormant or producing 1 pair of leaves); sessile; blades (often pinnately or ternately lobed) or lobes pinnately nerved, linear, 20–80 × 0.5–2.5(–4) mm, bases cuneate, margins entire, apices acuminate, faces puberulent, gland-dotted. Heads in paniculiform arrays. Phyllaries 7–10 in 2–3 series, (sometimes purple) elliptic to oblong, 1–3 × 0.5–0.8 mm, (margins hyaline) apices acuminate and mucronate, abaxial faces puberulent (mostly on midveins), usually gland-dotted. Florets 5; corollas (sometimes with purple throats) 2.5–3 mm. Cypselae 1–1.7 mm; pappi of 20–30 bristles 3–3.5 mm. 2n = 20.
Open or slightly shaded, wet sites, sand dunes, disturbed areas, roadsides, flatwoods; at elevations from 10-200 metres.
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