Erect annual or perennial herb. Leaves spathulate to oblanceolate, 22–61 mm long, 7–21 mm wide, dentate to lyrate, rarely denticulate, with teeth to 5 mm long, pale green, persistently hairy; resin globules present. Capitula hemispherical to cupular, 4.5–6 mm diam.; peduncles 1–3 mm long. Corolla of marginal florets bottle-shaped, 0.9–1.3 mm long, maroon to purple; resin globules few or none. Disc florets bisexual; corolla cylindrical, 1.25–1.4 mm long; lobes 4, 0.2–0.25 mm long; resin globules scattered throughout. Achenes formed from all florets, but disc achenes sometimes infertile. Marginal achenes 0.7–1.1 mm long, with 6–10 ribs; twin hairs 5–20 at base; resin globules numerous. Pappus corona transverse, 0.05–0.08 mm wide; pappus bristles absent or present and 1–6 per floret, slender, 0.1–1.0 mm long, without barbellae.
Grows on a wide range of soil types, from sand to black clay, on floodplains and riverbanks; also occurs at the base of sand dunes and in Sporobolus virginicus grassland adjacent to mangrove communities.
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