This is a common, somewhat weedy species on dry acid soils in southeastern states, but only east of the Mississippi Rv. Depauperate plants of anonyma can easily be confused with robust plants of the paupercula group (Mahoney & Kowal 2008; W; D. Estes, pers. comm.). P. anonyma differs in its basal blades which are larger (up to 30 x 3.5 cm versus 12 x 2 cm) and more elongated (L/W mostly 5-8 versus 3-5); its less reduced cauline leaves (mostly 7-10 cm long versus 2-7.5 cm); its greater height (mostly 3-10 dm versus 1-5 dm), and larger inflorescences (mostly 20-100 heads versus 1-50). Plants are sparsely floccose to glabrous (versus densely tomentose to glabrous). P. anonyma has had some medicinal use, probably involving its pyrrolizine alkaloids (Roeder et al. 2015).