Habit: Plants 2--50 cm. Stem: 1--5, forked +- throughout, central axis rarely dominant, +- gray to green, generally cobwebby. Leaf: generally awl-shaped, stiff, largest 20--30(40) mm, 1--1.5(2) mm wide; distal leaves generally 2--5 × heads, acute to +- spiny. Inflorescence: heads (2)3--10(14) per group, only at stem forks and tips, +- flask-shaped, largest (3)3.5--4.5 mm, 2--3 mm wide; phyllaries generally 5, equal, obovate, translucent, unlike paleae; outer paleae in vertical ranks, bent inward 70--90°, longest 3.3--4.1 mm, body hard. Pistillate Flower: outer 9--12; inner (with pappus) 8--14(30).
Field toad is an unusual annual plant with numerous small flowers. The apical racemose inflorescence is formed by egg-shaped baskets. The marginal pseudo-ligate flowers are filiform. The alternate lanceolate leaves have a solid margin and are slightly deflected. Their length does not exceed 2 cm. The height of branching stems of the field toad varies from 10 to 25 cm. The fruit of this plant species is presented in the form of small achenes.
This plant is useful.
