Plants 40-60(-80) cm (rhizom-atous). Leaves mostly cauline (not notably reduced distally); proximal petiolate; blades strongly 3-nerved, ovate, 4-10 cm × 11-30 mm. Heads 1-5, 20-33 mm diam. Peduncles 5-15+ cm. Phyllaries 8-12 × 1.5-3 mm, apices acute. Paleae ± linear, apices acute. Corollas pink, lobes 3.5-7.5 × 0.5-1 mm. Pappi: scale margins serrulate. 2n = 18. Flowering May-Jun. Understories, mixed hardwood forests, along streams, slightly disturbed sites; 100-500 m; Ala., Ga., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn.