Perennials, 90-180+ cm. Inter­nodes (± mid stem) 3-7(-10+) cm. Leaves: petioles 5-45 mm; blades usually 3-foliolate, leaflets usually simple, sometimes ± pinnately lobed, ultimate blades ± lanceolate, 4-9(-12+) cm × (9-)12-35+ mm. Peduncles 2-5+ cm. Calyculi of 5-6 oblong bractlets 1.5-5 mm. Phyllaries 8, ± oblong to lance-oblong, 6-8 mm. Ray laminae 12-22+ mm. Disc florets 40-80+; corollas red-brown to purplish, 5-6 mm. Cypselae obovate to oblong, 4-5(-6) mm. 2n = 26. Flowering Jul-Sep. Heavy loams, moist sands, along streams, boggy meadows; 100-500 m; Ont., Que.; Ala., Ark., Conn., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.