Western Ironweed: Vernonia baldwini: Asteraceae
Western Ironweed © RSWacha, 1998
Description:
Flowering heads have from 18 to 34 pink to lavender disc flowers. Ray flowers are absent. Involucral bracts are ovate, and have purple margins, with "web-like" hairs. The inflorescence is branched, up to 20 cm across, and bears many flowering heads. Leaves attach individually by means of a short, almost non-existent petiole, that may be winged. Leaves are narrowly ovate to lance-shaped, and have pronounced, "saw-like" teeth. Leaves measure up to about 13 cm long by 4 cm wide. Stems and undersides of leaves and veins are hairy. Blooms from July through August, in dry fields and woodland openings. Similar species are V. altissima, V. fasciculata, and V. missurica. Vernonia baldwini differs from these species, however, in having flowering heads with 18 to 34 disc flowers (altissima has 13 to 29, missurica, 34 to 55, and fasciculata, 18 to 21). Vernonia baldwini is further distinguished from V. altissima by having smaller and more sharply-toothed leaves. Native to N. A.