Short-lived perennials (usually), 30-80 cm. Stems 1-5 (older plants), ascending to erect, rarely procumbent, usually simple. Leaves: mid to distal cauline sometimes numerous (to 75 on tall stems), sometimes crowded; blades linear to lanceolate, margins coarsely long-pilose, faces sparsely pilose to glabrate. Heads usually in subumbelliform, sometimes in compound, subumbelliform arrays. Phyllaries: apices spreading, faces glabrate. 2n = 18.

Flowering late Sep-Dec. Sandy and clay soils, open pine flatwoods, oak-pine scrub, disturbed areas; 0-50 m; Ala., Fla., La., Miss.

A few plants similar to subsp. hyssopifolia have been collected in northern peninsular Florida.