Annuals, 40–150 cm. Stems erect to ± procumbent, hispid, hispid-hirsute, or hirsute. Leaves mostly cauline; mostly opposite; petioles 5–9 cm; blades deltate to ovate (sometimes constricted near middles, subsp. praecox), 3–9 × 2–7 cm, bases cordate, cuneate, or trun-cate, margins serrate to serrulate, abaxial faces hirsute to hispid, usually not gland-dotted. Heads 1–3. Peduncles 15–40 cm. Involucres hemispheric, 13–18 mm diam. Phyllaries 30–39, lanceolate, 9–15 × 2–4 mm, apices short-attenuate to short-acuminate (subsp. praecox), abaxial faces hispidulous to hispid-hirsute. Paleae 6.5–8 mm, 3-toothed (middle teeth acuminate, equaling or slightly surpassing discs, apices puberulent or bearded, hairs whitish). Ray florets 11–16; laminae 16–26 mm. Disc florets 35+; corollas 5–6 mm, lobes reddish; anthers dark, appendages purplish red (style branches reddish). Cypselae 2.5–3.3 mm, ± villous; pappi of 2 aristate scales 1.2–1.5 mm.
