Plants 3-5(-8+) dm. Stems puberulent, glabrescent. Leaves mostly cauline; blades narrowly lanceolate to lance-linear, 5-15+ cm × (2.5-)8-12+ mm, l/w = 8-20(-30+), abaxially glabrate (pitted, awl-shaped hairs in pits), adaxially puberulent, glabrescent (sometimes pitted). Heads in corymbiform arrays. Peduncles (3-)10-35 mm. Involucres narrowly campanulate, (7-)9-11 × 5-6 mm. Phyllaries 35-40+ in 5-6+ series, glabrescent, margins arachno-ciliolate, the outer lance-ovate, 1-2 mm, inner oblong to linear-oblong, 6-9+ mm, tips ± acuminate. Florets 10-25+. Cypselae 4-5 mm; pappi stramineous to purplish, outer subulate scales or bristles 30+, 0.6-2+ mm, intergrading with 40+, 8-9+ mm inner subulate scales or bristles. 2n = 34.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Ditches, sandy flats, stream banks; 600-2000 m; Colo., Kans., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; Mexico (Coahuila).