Biennials or perennials. Stems branched mostly beyond mid heights, leafy ± throughout. Leaves: basal blades broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, 2.5-7 cm wide (lengths mostly 2 times widths); cauline blades lanceolate, ovate, or pandurate; margins coarsely toothed; faces hirsute to hispid. Peduncles less than ¹/3 plant heights. 2n = 38. Flowering spring-fall. Open woodlands, fields, roadsides; 30-300 m; Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va. Variety hirta grows mostly from the Appalachian highlands to Illinois. A report of var. hirta from Ontario has not been confirmed.