Flora of North America species comparison

single, branched (branches nearly at right angles, stiff), glabrous.

single, branches virgate, usually glabrous, rarely tomentose.

withered at flowering;

basal blades oblanceolate, 6–10 cm, margins entire or toothed (teeth minute, faces glabrous);

cauline much reduced, bractlike.

withered at flowering;

basal blades oblanceolate to spatulate, runcinate, 3–10 cm, margins pinnately lobed (faces usually glabrous, rarely tomentose);

cauline much reduced, bractlike.

2–10 mm.

3–10 mm, bracteate.

6–9 mm.

6–8 mm.

5.

5–9.

of appressed bractlets.

of appressed or reflexed bractlets.

borne singly along branches or in paniculiform arrays.

borne singly or clustered along branches.

light to dark tan, 3.8–4.2 mm, faces slightly bumpy to tuberculate, (grooved);

pappi of 15–18 tan bristles (connate in groups of 2–4, bases persistent), plumose to tops of bases.

light tan to dark brown, 2.2–3.6 mm, faces smooth to tuberculate, not grooved;

pappi (falling) of 23–28, white bristles, wholly plumose.

= 16.

= 16.