About Vernonia baldwinii Torr.
Vernonia baldwinii Torr. is a tall perennial herb that grows from rhizomes. Its stems are round in cross-section, densely covered in short soft hairs, and branched; they typically reach up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) in height, and may sometimes grow taller. Its leaves are lanceolate, grow along the stem in an alternate arrangement, and reach around 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 4.5 cm (1.8 in) wide. Larger leaves of this species have serrated edges. The upper leaf surface is covered in tiny fine hairs, while the lower leaf surface has longer hairs that are often bent or tangled. The inflorescence is showy, somewhat flat-topped, and made up of irregularly branched terminal panicles; it can measure 30 cm (1 ft) or more across. All flowerheads contain only 17 to 34 disk flowers, with no ray flowers present. The disk flower corollas are deep pink to purple, 5-lobed, hairless, and 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long. This species grows in dry soil across prairies, pastures, open grounds, and woods, with a native range extending from Iowa to Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. Its flowers bloom in summer, between May and September, and attract bees, butterflies, and other insects. American goldfinches and other bird species eat the seeds of Vernonia baldwinii.
