stickweed
Family
AsteraceaeScientific Name
Verbesina occidentalis
Other Common Names:
yellow crownbeard
Synonyms (former Scientific Names):
Phaethusa occidentalis
Habit
This plant has oval, hairless cotyledons, and develops from a basal crown. It can be found flowering from late summer through early fall. The stems can be found through the winter, long after the plant has died.
Leaves
The lanceolate leaves grow from 3 to 8 inches in length and 1 to 3 inches wide. The leaves have a serrated margin and are generally hairless.
Identifying Characteristics
This plant has distinctive wings that run the length of the stems. Wingstem is similar to stickweed, but can be distinguished by its alternate leaves.
Flower Seed Head
The yellow flowers occur in clusters at the ends of the stems. Each flower is composed of smaller disc flowers in the center, and ray flowers along the edges. The ray flowers grow from 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches in length.
Seed Fruit
The seeds develop inside a brown nutlet.
Where Found
This plant prefers full or partial sunlight in moist soil. It can normally be found growing in fertile soils near woodland areas, rivers, pastures and abandoned fields.
Growth Habit
Varies:
upright and nonwoody,
woody bush or tree
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
Varies:
dime,
nickle,
quarter,
half dollar,
larger
Dominant Flower Color
yellow
Flower Symmetry
Varies:
bilateral symmetry,
not symmetrical
Leaf Hairs
no hairs
Leaf Shape
Varies:
lance,
oval
Leaf Arrangement
opposite
Leaf Margin
serrated
Leaf Structure
simple
Leaf Stalk
shorter than leaf
Stem Hairs
Varies:
has hairs,
no hairs
Stem Cross Section
Varies:
round or oval,
square or multi-edged
Milky Sap
not present
Root Structure
Varies:
fibrous,
bulb/
Life Cycle
perennial
Ochrea
not present
Plant Type
Herb