Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) (Walter, 1891)

 

Synonyms: Chrysocoma gigantea, Vernonia altissima, V. ovalifolia (see The Plant List for more synonyms), Giant Ironweed

 

 

Vernonia gigantea is found in floodplains of eastern North America, from the lower Great Lakes to Florida and eastern Texas; mostly in the Mississippi Basin (Map). It grows in moist loams in tallgrass prairies, open woodlands, swamps, pastures, and abandoned fields; 10-300 m. It is a perennial herb reaching 1-3 in height. The stem is green or purplish green, hairy or pubescent. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate with serrated margins, 25-30 cm long. The flowerheads, consisting of 18-30 disk florets with purple corollas are arranged in flat-headed panicles. V. gigantea flowers from July to September. The fruit is a small achene, wind-dispersed.

 

		13015 Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) Ojibway Prairie Nature Reserve Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		13011 Tall Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) Ojibway Prairie Nature Reserve Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
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