Stems 0.7–1.5(–2) m, glabrous or nearly so (or more puberulent above) and somewhat glaucous; lvs linear or lance-linear, 10–20 × 0.5–2.5 cm, acuminate, denticulate or sometimes entire, glabrous or rarely thinly hairy, pitted-punctate beneath; infl very irregular, the pedicels 1–5 cm, thickened at the top; fls mostly 55–100+; invol 9–15 mm, its bracts arachnoid-ciliate, linear or narrowly lanceolate at the appressed base, with loosely flexuous filiform tip 2–4 mm; pappus brownish-purple; 2n=34. Low woods and streambanks; Ozark region of Mo., s. Ill., Ark., Okla., and Kans., occasionally intr. n. and e. to Wis. (V. crinita)