Plants 50–50(–80+) cm (perennating bases ± horizontal rhizomes, internodes not winged). Leaves all or mostly opposite (distal sometimes alternate); blades ± elliptic, 3–6(–10) × 0.8–2.2(–3) cm, bases ± cuneate, margins toothed to subentire, apices ± rounded or obtuse, faces ± scabrellous. Heads borne singly or (2–)3+ in dichasial arrays. Involucres ± hemispheric to turbinate, 8–16 mm diam. Phyllaries 18–24+ in 2–3 series, ± erect, spatulate to lance-linear, 5–9+ mm. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 40–60(–80+); corollas yellow. Cypselae purplish black, ± elliptic, 5–7 mm, faces glabrous or sparsely hirtellous; pappi 0–0.3 mm. 2n = 34.