Erect or ascending perennial, 2–10 dm, often with many basal branches, otherwise simple to the infl; lvs numerous, in 4’s, elliptic to oval, 1–2.5 cm, half as wide, firm, usually 3-nerved; infls terminal and from the upper axils, each divaricately 2–3-forked, the fls terminating the branchlets; fr uncinate-bristly; 2n=22. Dry woods; N.H. to Mich. and Kans., s. to Fla. and Tex. June– Aug. Most of our plants are the northern phase, var. pilosum, with the stem and lvs ± pubescent with straight hairs. The southern phase, var. puncticulosum (Michx.) Torr. & A. Gray, with the stem and lvs ± pubescent with short, upwardly incurved hairs, extends n. to Mo. and on the coastal plain to s. N.J.
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