This North American plant of poor sandy open disturbed habitats is probably native west of the Mississippi, but has been rapidly advancing for more than a hundred years, first along railroads, then also highways. The flowers are aggregated in terminal and lateral spikes, in 3 ranks within each spike. Tepals 5, connate (except for distinct acute apices), forming a lanate tube, surrounded by bracteoles and bracts. Bracteoles in this species are glabrous, stramineous/blackish.