Native. Perennial. Propagates by seeds.

Time of bloom: July to September.

Seed-time: September to November.

Range: Ohio to South Dakota, southward to New Mexico and Texas. Habitat: Prairies, hillsides, woodland borders, meadows, pastures, roadsides, and waste places.

Fig. 288. - Tall Ironweed (Ver-nonia altissima). X 1 1/4.

Fig. 289. - Western Iron-weed (Vernonia fasciculata). X1/4.

Stems two to six feet tall, erect, smooth, usually simple. Leaves alternate, narrow lance-shaped to linear, numerous, ascending, sometimes finely hairy on the upper surface but smooth beneath, sessile, finely toothed. Heads very many, rather small, in a compact cymose cluster, each containing about twenty florets, deep reddish purple; involucre bell-shaped, its bracts closely appressed. Achenes smooth, the pappus purple-tinged. (Fig. 289.)

Means of control the same as for Tall Iron weed.