COMPOSITE FAMILY COMPOSITAE | 
WINGSTEM 
Actinomeris alternifolia (L.) DC. 
Not many members of this family have winged stems, con- 
sequently this plant may usually be recognized by them, 
plus the unlobed ray flowers. 
This perennial grows in rich — 
soil, especially along streams and 
railroads, from New Jersey to lowa 
and south to Florida, Louisiana and 
Kansas. The leafy stem, either un- 
branched or branched near the top, 
grows 4-9 feet high and usually has 
narrow wings formed by the bases 
of the alternate leaves which extend 
down upon it. The leaves are 4-12 
inches long, sessile or short petiol- 
ed, and rather rough on both sides. 
The lower ones are sometimes opposite 
and have narrow petioles. 
Numerous many-flowered heads 
bloom in August and September. The 
involucre is composed of a few narrow 
spreading bracts, and the receptacle is 
small and chaffy. There are 2-10 yellow 
ray flowers, slightly toothed at the end 
but not lobed. The disk flowers are also 
yellow. The pappus consists of 2 smooth 
awns. 
The White Wingstem or Crownbeard, Verbesina virginica L., is a 
similar plant, differing mainly in its broader and rougher leaves, its 
less fully winged stems and in its 3-5 white pistillate ray flowers. 
The akenes are minutely hairy and winged or wingless. 
The Sunflower Crownbeard, Verbesina helianthoides Michx., has 
a 2-4-foot stem, hairy and widely 4-winged by the sessile alternate 
leaves which are toothed, rough above and soft hairy beneath. The 
heads are solitary or few and broader than in the above species, being 
2-3 inches across. The 8-15 yellow linear-oblong rays are pistillate or 
neutral. The akenes are rough, broadly winged and topped by a 
pappus of 2 fragile awns. This species frequents dry prairies and 
thickets from Ohio to Georgia, west to Iowa, Missouri and Texas. 
The flowering time is a little earlier than for both preceding species, 
being June and July. 
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