Erect plant to 5 feet tall with green lance-shaped leaves along the stems and arching flower stalks of small bright yellow flowers forming a feathery, plume-shaped inflorescence.
Stems have soft hairs throughout; leaves are very numerous, generally uniform, only gradually reducing upward; upper leaves have less teeth than lower leaves; inflorescences definitely one-sided; flowers have fewer ray flowers than disc flowers.
Habitat
Dry to moist roadsides, thickets, prairies & open woods.
Flower Characteristics
Small, bright yellow flowers to 1/4 inch wide, 1/8 inch long, are clustered along the upper side of branches forming a plume-shaped inflorescence.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are green and lance-shaped to 6 inches long, gradually becoming smaller on upper stems.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit contains a single seed. Fruits have small tufts of hair which helps with dispersal by the wind.