Verbesina alternifolia | |
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Wingstem in cultivation | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Verbesina |
Species: | V. alternifolia
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Binomial name | |
Verbesina alternifolia Britton ex Kearney (L.)
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Synonyms | |
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Verbesina alternifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is commonly known as wingstem [2] or yellow ironweed. [3] It is native to North America. [2]
The name "wingstem" refers to the petioles of the leaves, which run down the stem and form raised ridges or "wings" along it. [4] The plant grows 3-8 feet tall with an unbranched stem until reaching the inflorescence at the very top. [5] Its yellow flower heads, which bloom in late summer through early fall, are 1-2 inches wide and consist of up to 10 bright yellow ray florets that are angled downward, each bearing a notch at the end, as well as a spherical cluster of tubular yellow disk florets in the center. [6]
This plant grows in fertile, moist low-lying areas, such as near creeks and in open bottomland woods, usually not far from a body of water or woodland. [5] [7] The tubular disk florets in the center of every flower head attract long-tongued bees such as bumblebees and butterflies, while being less attractive to shorter-tongued insects like wasps and flies. [5]
Verbesina alternifolia is sometimes considered weedy. [8] It thrives and competes well in both disturbed and less disturbed habitats, and often forms colonies by spreading vegetatively from rhizomes.
The seeds are attractive food for birds. [9] The foliage is not preferred food by deer and other herbivores. [5] [10]
It is a larval host to the gold moth ( Basilodes pepita) and the silvery checkerspot ( Chlosyne nycteis). [11]