species 41,986 observations

Wingstem

Verbesina alternifolia

Status: native
Bees: 16 specialists raised on its pollen
Traits
Where: In the US
Source: iNaturalist

Field notes

Verbesina alternifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is commonly known as wingstem or yellow ironweed. It is native to North America.

The name "wingstem" refers to the petioles of the leaves, which run down the stem and form raised ridges or "wings" along it. The plant grows 3-8 feet tall with an unbranched stem until reaching the inflorescence at the very top. 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.