Leaves: basal (rosettes) usually withering by flowering; petiole bases or vasculature not persisting on rhizomes; proximalmost cauline petiolate, sometimes present at flowering; proximal and distal sometimes 3-nerved. Heads in ± paniculiform or thyrsiform arrays (wand-, club-, or secund cone-shaped) or in axillary clusters, sometimes in rounded corymbiform arrays. Phyllaries 1-nerved, usually not striate (3–5-nerved and striate in S. glomerata, S. lancifolia, S. roanensis) sometimes minutely stipitate-glandular, sometimes resinous. Pappus bristles in 2–3 series (shorter, outer setiform scales rarely present, outer, longer bristles apically attenuate, inner bristles longest, weakly to strongly clavate).

Species ca. 95 (71 in the flora): North America, South America, temperate Eurasia; introduced in tropical Asia.