Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_2842.JPG-08-19-2019
Flower name (scientific): Erechtites hieraciifolius (Linnaeus) Rafinesque ex de Candolle PY: 1838. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) e-REK-ti-tees hi-er-ay-see-ih-FOH-lee-a
Flower name (common): Pilewort
Family name (common): Aster
Family name (scientific): Asteraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From Greek, possibly referencing the disected leaves, i.e. the seratted margins.
    Specific epithet: From the Latin for having leaves similar to the hawkweeds (genus Hieracium).
Common name origin: From pile and wort. Pile is from the Latin pilus and the origin is unknown. Wort refers to a herb having medicinal or food value. The name Pilewort was attached to those plants that were supposedly a remedy for haemorrhoids. An alternative suggestion for the common name, is that it possibly refers to the white hairs on the seeds, which may have been used as stuffing or pile for mattresses, pillows, etc (IL).
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm)
     Petal count: >11 (disk florets), usually 20 to 45; ray florets absent.
     Color: white or yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Panicle
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 80 inches (61 to 203 cm)
     Stem hairy: glabrous to sparse or moderately pubescent with spreaading hairs.
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed
     Size: Leaves up to about 20 cm long and about 8 cm wide.
     Color: medium green
     Hairy: upper surface glabous, undersurface glabrous to sparse or moderately hairy, particularly along the midvein.
     Other: Shape: leaf, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to October
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual
Habitat: Prairies, woodlands, thickets, disturbed sites, roadsides, marshes, sun or part shade, dry to wet.
Fruit: Achenes about 2 to 3 mm in length, brown colored.
Seed: Brown colored, with a tuft of white hairs that aid seed dispersal.
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): The flowers of Senecio vulgaris (Common Groundsel) have some resemblance, but this plant is typically 8 to 20 inches tall, whereas Erechtites hieraciifolius is tyically 40 to around 80 inches or more tall.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.795715
Longitude: -91.513718
Altitude: 268.20
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (NB, NS, ON, PE, QC) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: Senecio hieraciifolius Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 866. 1753 (as hieracifolius).
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 3 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 31 heterotypic synonyms for this species.
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): Not listed
Wetland Status (MW): Not listed