Plants caulescent, 40-160 cm; fibrous rooted. Stems terete, shaggy-hispid. Leaves: basal persistent, petiolate; cauline usually alternate, sometimes opposite, petiolate or sessile; blades lanceolate to narrowly ovate, 1.5-26 × 0.5-14 cm, bases attenuate to acute, margins coarsely toothed or entire, apices acuminate, faces shaggy-hispid. Phyllaries 14-19 in 2-3 series, outer appressed, apices acuminate to acute, abaxial faces shaggy-hispid. Ray florets 10-20; corollas pale yellow. Disc florets 40-85; corollas pale yellow. Cypselae 6-10 × 4-7 mm; pappi 1-2 mm. Flowering late summer-early fall. Prairies, clearings, fence rows, sandy soils; 100-400 m; Ala., Ga., Tenn.