What to look for in the field:

The capitulescence consists of numerous short, strongly ascending, straight branches, which are located at the top of the stem.  It is often narrow, but may be broader in robust plants, more conical in shape with longer branches.  Heads are crowded, NOT in one-sided arrays on branches.

Stems are stout, straight, glabrous below, becoming sparsely pubescent in the capitulescence.

Leaves are basally-disposed.  Basal and lowest stem leaves are sometimes present during flowering.  They are ovate, toothed, and taper to a winged petiole.  Mid- to upper stem leaves gradually become smaller, elliptic to lanceolate and untoothed upward.  Petioles also become shorter or lacking (the upper-most).  Click here for image of leaves.

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01/01/2010