Upper leaves sessile, often unlobed. Lower leaves short-petioled, lobed. Vertical roots can penetrate soil to a depth of 2 m and produce new shoot buds to a depth of 0.5 m. Flower head stalks and phyllaries typically covered with stiff glandular hairs . 1 mm wide, light to dark brown.
Aerial stems die back after first frost.
Disturbed sites with damp soils. Thrives on non-compacted, fine, rich, slightly alkaline to neutral soils. Tolerates some salinity. Seedlings are typically found along pond and river margins and in lawns, moist meadows, and uncultivated fields. Reproduces by seed and vegetative shoots from roots .