What to look for in the field:

The capitulescence is broad and open, with widely-spaced, ascending, recurved branches which are located in the upper 1/3 of the stem.  Heads are crowded in one-sided arrays on branches.

Stems are straight, stout, angular (not round) in cross-section, glabrous below, becoming short-pubescent in the capitulescence.

Leaves are basally-disposed.  Basal and lower stem leaves are often present at flowering.  They are ovate, toothed, and taper to long, winged petioles.  Mid- to upper stem leaves become smaller and narrower upwards, with progressively shorter petioles.  Leaves are somewhat thick, rough to the touch on the upper surface and glabrous beneath.

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01/01/2010