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woolly ironweed

ironplant, plains ironweed

Habit Plants 2–5(–8+) dm. Plants 3–5(–8+) 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 narrowly lanceolate to lance-linear, 5–15+ cm × (2.5–)8–12+ mm, l/w = 8–20(–30+), abaxially glabrate (pitted, awl-shaped hairs in pits), adaxially puberulent, glabrescent (sometimes pitted).

Peduncles

5–35 mm.

(3–)10–35 mm.

Involucres

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

narrowly campanulate, (7–)9–11 × 5–6 mm.

Florets

12–24+.

10–25+.

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.

35–40+ in 5–6+ series, glabrescent, margins arachno-ciliolate, the outer lance-ovate, 1–2 mm, inner oblong to linear-oblong, 6–9+ mm, tips ± acuminate.

Heads

in corymbiform arrays.

in corymbiform 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.

4–5 mm;

pappi stramineous to purplish, outer subulate scales or bristles 30+, 0.6–2+ mm, intergrading with 40+, 8–9+ mm inner subulate scales or bristles.

2n

= 34.

= 34.

Vernonia lindheimeri

Vernonia marginata

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat Calcareous soils, rocky banks Ditches, sandy flats, stream banks
Elevation 300 m (1000 ft) 600–2000 m (2000–6600 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AR; TX; Mexico (Coahuila)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; KS; NM; OK; TX; Mexico (Coahuila)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 19, p. 210. FNA vol. 19, p. 211.
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. gigantea, V. glauca, V. larseniae, V. lettermannii, V. lindheimeri, V. missurica, V. noveboracensis, V. pulchella, V. texana
Synonyms V. altissima var. marginata
Name authority A. Gray & Engelmann: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 1: 46. (1847) (Torrey) Rafinesque: Atlantic J. 1: 146. (1832)
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