Plants 6-10+ dm. Stems sparsely appressed-puberulent, glabrescent. Leaves mostly cauline; blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 10-15(-18+) cm × 30-45(-70+) mm, l/w = 2.5-3.5(-4), abaxially scabrellous (hairs awl-shaped), resin-gland-dotted or not, adaxially glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Heads in corymbiform to paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 2-35 mm. Involucres ± hemispheric, 5-8 × 7-8 mm. Phyllaries 40-60 in 5-6 series, sparsely puberulent to tomentulose, glabrescent, margins ciliolate, the outer lance-deltate to subulate, 1-3 mm, inner oblong, 4-7+ mm, tips acuminate to subulate or filiform. Florets 30-45+. Cypselae 3-4 mm; pappi stramineous to whitish, outer subulate scales or bristles 30, 0.5-1.5+ mm, intergrading with 30+, 6-8 mm inner subulate scales or bristles. 2n = 34. Flowering Jul-Sep. Dry fields, marshes; 10-400 m; Ala., Del., D.C., Ga., Md., Mass., N.J., N.C., Pa., S.C., Va.