American Burnweed

American Burnweed

Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Raf.

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ young plants

▲ leaves and stem

▲ ▼ plants with flower buds

▲ ▼ mature flowering plants

▲ mature flowering plants

▲ ▼ fruit

Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC., American Burnweed, Pilewort: (Bayer Code: EREHI; US Code ERHI2)

U.S. native, mostly-unbranched, rapidly-growing summer annual weed that grows 3-9 feet tall
Leaves and stems are bright green, fleshy, lanceolate with shallow teeth along the margin (more toward leaf-tip); some plants have deeper pointed lobes, with teeth along their margins, while others may have unlobed leaves with tiny teeth on margins
Flowers are in open, terminal clusters, similar to horseweed (Conyza canadensis), but burnweed’s flowers are larger, and not as many as horseweed; similar to horseweed, flowers don’t open much, similar to horseweed
Bracts below inflorescence are linear to thread-like and in several rows; tips of bracts may stand out slightly away from base of head
Seeds have parachutes (pappus) attached that allow for wind dispersal, making mature flower clusters looking sort of feathery as fruits open to release seeds
Common in disturbed sites, cultivated crops, gardens, open woods; tolerates moderate shade, but needs fairly moist, well-drained soil; can be one of the first plants to colonize a site after burning, giving rise to its common name