Annuals, 40-100 cm. Stems usually 1, branched distally, moderately winged, sparsely hairy proximally, moderately hairy distally. Leaves glabrous or sparsely hairy (basal leaves withered by flowering); proximal blades lanceolate to lance-linear, usually irregularly laciniate; mid and distal blades lance-linear, entire. Heads 10-75(-120+) per plant, in paniculiform arrays. Peduncles 3-10 cm, moderately hairy. Involucres ovoid to conic, 6-10 × 5-10 mm. Phyllaries (strongly connate proximally), moderately hairy. Ray florets 0. Disc florets 225-500+; corollas yellow-green proximally, brown to reddish brown distally, 1-1.3 mm, lobes 4. Cypselae 0.9-1.2(-1.5) mm, moderately hairy; pappi of 6(-7) entire, non-aristate scales 0.2-0.5 mm. 2n = 26. Flowering (Mar-)May-Jul(-Sep). Ditches, around ponds, along streams, moist fields; 30-1600 m; Ariz.; Mexico.

Plant: Annual or biennnial forb to 70 cm; stems winged Leaves: leaves alternate, decurrent, narrow and sessile Flowers: flowers brown, numerous; pappus of short, blunt squamellae.