Vernonia noveboracensis
Vernonia noveboracensis, the New York ironweed or vein-leaf hawkweed, is a plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the eastern United States, from Florida to Massachusetts and west to Tennessee, Alabama, and West Virginia and to southern Ontario.
Description
Vernonia noveboracensis is a herbaceous plant with alternate, simple leaves, on stiff, greenish purple stems. It grows approximately 6 feet tall. The flowers are purple, borne in summer and fall. Ironweed is an herbaceous clumping perennial that will spread by seed. Ironweed can be an aggressive in moist soils. Vernonia noveboracensis has longer stems than other plants in the same genus like Vernonia acaulis. The color of the seed is brown. It grows with multiple stems and at a moderate rate. It is a deciduous plant. The main flower of this plant is made up of florets. The floret clusters are small and compact. Vernonia noveboracensis has a small fruit called an achene that is covered in bristles which allow them to be dispersed by the wind. It takes Vernonia noveboracensis two to five years to reach its maximum height. It can grow through chalk, clay, and loam dirt with acid to alkaline pH level.
Ecology
Vernonia noveboracensis blooms in August and grows in wetlands and moist soils. Veronia noveboracensis is classified as FAC+. The active growth period is during the summer. The lowest temperature it can survive in is. Vernonia noveboracensis competes through its early season growth and tall stem height. Vernonia noveboracensis is not known to be an invasive species. A hard stem also allows the plant to withstand windy conditions. The species is not toxic. This plant attracts butterflies, birds, and other insects but it is resistant to deer.
Uses
Dihydromikanolide is a sesquiterpene lactone that is found in Vernonia noveboracensis which is good for infections. Native Americans use the leaves of the Vernonia noveboracensis to make a tea that relieves labor pain used as a blood tonic. The roots of the plants were also made into teas that relieved stomach ulcers and tooth pain.