American Burnweed
Erechtites hieraciifolius
native
Other Names:
Pilewort, Fireweed, Sneezeweed
American Burnweed is a native plant in the daisy family that is found through much of the eastern two-thirds of North America as well as along the west coast of the United States. It is called Burnweed (or Fireweed), because it can grow on land that has been recently burned. It is also sometimes called Pilewort, because Native Americans used it to treat piles (hemorrhoids). The flowers are pollinated primarily by wasps. The seeds are wind-dispersed and are a minor food source for birds. The daisy family is called Asteraceae and has close to 33,000 species in more than 1,900 genera. Among the best known members are the familiar Common Sunflower and Common Daisy.
Identification Tools
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