Vernonia fasciculata

Species category

Weed

Common name

prairie ironweed, western ironweed

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

AcheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.

Shape

Oblanceolate

Size

  • Length 3–3.5 mm 
  • Width 1–1.1 mm 
  • Thickness 1–1.1 mm 

Color

Gray

Texture

Rough between longitudinal ribs

Other structures

Several strong, rounded, and longitudinal ribs dominate the acheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.
surface.

Identification notes

PappusPappus:
Modified calyx in Asteraceae, composed of hairs, bristles, awns, or scales. The pappus-like structure attached to milkweed seeds is termed a coma. 
crown is slightly smaller than the acheneAchene:
A dry, hard, one-chambered, one-seeded indehiscent fruit, as in buckwheat (Fagopyrum) or sunflower (Helianthus). The fruit wall is not united with the seed coat.
circumference.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Not included

Nomenclature

Family

Asteraceae

Valid name

Vernonia fasciculata Michx.

Synonyms

 Vernonia fasciculata.  Achenes with the pappus crown slightly smaller than the achene circumference. 
Vernonia fasciculata. Achenes with the pappus crown slightly smaller than the achene circumference.