Plants 30–90 cm. Stems glabrous to sparsely tomentose. Leaves: blades linear to oblong, 10–30 cm, spinose-dentate to shallowly pinnatifid, main spines mostly 5–10 mm, abaxial faces glabrous or nearly so. Heads 1–10. Involucres 3–4 × 3–6 cm, glabrous. Phyllaries: outer and middle bodies densely scabridulous, marginal spinules 0.1–0.5 mm. Corollas purple. 2n = 32, 33, 34, 35.

Phenology: Flowering winter–summer (Feb–Aug).
Habitat: Meadows, pastures, old fields, pinelands, usually in damp soil
Elevation: 0–100 m

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ala., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C.

Discussion

Variety vittatum grows on the coastal plain.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.