414 COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY) 
Stems two to six feet tall, erect, 
smooth, usually simple. Leaves alter- 
nate, 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 Ironweed. 
ILLINOIS IRONWEED 
Vernonia illinoénsis, Gleason 
Native. Perennial. Propagates by 
seeds. 
Fic. 289. — Western Iron- Time of bloom: July to September: 
weed (Vernonia fasciculata). Seed-time: September to November. 
xk Range: Ontario to Minnesota, south- 
a. ward to Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa. 
Habitat: Dry prairies; meadows and pastures, roadsides, and 
waste places. 
Stem three to six or more feet tall, rather stout, somewhat 
rough. Leaves large, oblong lance-shaped, finely woolly-hairy 
above and rough to the touch beneath, sharply toothed. Heads 
in a densely crowded cymose cluster, many of them sessile or on 
very short pedicels, rather large, each containing about forty red- 
dish purple florets; involucre bell-shaped, its bracts purple- 
tinged, obtuse, closely appressed. Achenes slightly rough-ribbed, 
the pappus purplish brown. Both pollen and nectar are plenti- 
fully supplied by all the Ironweeds, and bumblebees and many 
species of butterflies are attracted by the flowers, thus assuring 
their thorough cross-fertilization. 
Means of control the same as for Tall Ironweed. 
