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woolly ironweed

giant ironweed, tall ironweed

Habit Plants 2–5(–8+) dm. Plants 8–20(–30+) dm.
Stems

± pannose.

puberulent, glabrescent.

Leaves

mostly cauline;

blades linear, 5–8 cm × 2–4 mm, l/w = 17–25(–40), abaxially densely sericeo-tomentose, adaxially usually glabrate, sometimes sparsely arachno-tomentose.

mostly cauline;

blades ± lanceolate, 12–25+ cm × 20–60+ mm, l/w = (3.5–)4–7+, abaxially scabrellous (hairs awl-shaped), sometimes glabrescent, not or sparsely resin-gland-dotted, adaxially strigillose, glabrescent, not resin-gland-dotted.

Peduncles

5–35 mm.

1–12(–20+) mm.

Involucres

± obconic to campanulate, 6–10 × 5–8 mm.

broadly campanulate to hemispheric, 4–5+ × 4–5 mm.

Florets

12–24+.

(9–)18–24(–30).

Phyllaries

40–50+ in 5–6+ series, sericeo-tomentose, including margins, the outer lance-ovate, 1–2 mm, the inner lanceolate to lance-linear, 6–7(–9+) mm, tips acute.

30–40+ in 4–5 series, glabrate, margins ciliolate, the outer lance-ovate, 1–2 mm, inner oblong, 3.5–5 mm, tips acute or rounded-apiculate.

Heads

in corymbiform arrays.

in corymbiform-scorpioid arrays.

Cypselae

3–4 mm;

pappi stramineous to purplish, outer scales 20+, 0.6–1.1 mm, contrasting with 20+, 6–7+ mm inner bristles.

2.5–3.5 mm;

pappi usually purplish, sometimes stramineous, outer scales 20–25, 0.5–1 mm, contrasting with 35–40+, 4.5–6+ mm inner bristles.

2n

= 34.

= 34.

Vernonia lindheimeri

Vernonia gigantea

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jun–Sep.
Habitat Calcareous soils, rocky banks Flood plains
Elevation 300 m (1000 ft) 10–300 m (0–1000 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AR; TX; Mexico (Coahuila)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MD; MI; MO; MS; NC; NE; OH; OK; PA; SC; TN; TX; VA; WV; ON
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 19, p. 210. FNA vol. 19, p. 212.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Vernonieae > Vernonia Asteraceae > tribe Vernonieae > Vernonia
Sibling taxa
V. acaulis, V. angustifolia, V. arkansana, V. baldwinii, V. blodgettii, V. fasciculata, V. flaccidifolia, V. gigantea, V. glauca, V. larseniae, V. lettermannii, V. marginata, V. missurica, V. noveboracensis, V. pulchella, V. texana
V. acaulis, V. angustifolia, V. arkansana, V. baldwinii, V. blodgettii, V. fasciculata, V. flaccidifolia, V. glauca, V. larseniae, V. lettermannii, V. lindheimeri, V. marginata, V. missurica, V. noveboracensis, V. pulchella, V. texana
Synonyms Chrysocoma gigantea, V. altissima, V. altissima var. taeniotricha, V. gigantea subsp. ovalifolia, V. ovalifolia
Name authority A. Gray & Engelmann: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 1: 46. (1847) (Walter) Branner & Coville: Rep. (Annual) Arkansas Geol. Surv. 4: 189. (1891)
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