A perennial herb growing 1-1.5m tall. Stems branching in upper 1/2, herbaceous, erect, short pubescent, minutely winged (ribbed) from leaf bases, from rhizomes. Leaves alternate, sessile, linear, 3-5 nerved, entire, slightly scabrous, acute to acuminate, to +/-10cm long, 8-9mm broad, reduced upward by inflorescence, glandular-punctate. Inflorescence - Corymbose arrangement of flower heads. Peduncles winged and pubescent to strigose on wing margins. Involucre - 5mm tall, 2mm in diameter, cylindrical. Phyllaries imbricate, glabrous, yellowish and often with green apices, linear, with scarious margins. Ray flowers - Fertile. Ligule yellow, to -3mm long, .5mm broad, glabrous. Disk flowers - 15-20 per flowerhead. Corolla tube to 2mm long, pale yellow, 5-lobed. Lobes yellow, 1.3mm long, acute, glabrous. Stamens 5, adnate 1/2 way up corolla tube. Anthers yellow, connate around style, included, 1.4mm long. Style bifurcate, just exserted beyond corolla lobes.

Antiseptic (infusion of the dried powdered herb)

Plants For A Future

A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of chest pains and lung problems. An infusion of the blossoms has been used in the treatment of some types of fevers.