Taprooted, glabrous annual to 8 dm, freely branched at least above; lvs linear, to 15 cm נ4 mm, the lower several pairs opposite, the others alternate, the uppermost reduced to linear bracts; heads terminating the branches; invol 12-17 mm, with 7 or 8 principal bracts; fls 8-11, the ligule lavender with white tip, 5-7 נ1 mm, ±erect;
achenes columnar-fusiform, 8-10-ribbed, scabrellous near the tip; 2n=12. Open, sandy places; w. Io. to w. Minn., N.D., n. Tex., Wyo., and Utah. July-Sept. (Shinnersoseris r.)
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
