Vernonia missurica

Vernonia missurica, the Missouri ironweed, is a species of magenta-flowered perennial plant from family Asteraceae native to the central and east central United States.

Description
The plant is 3 - 5 ft in height and 3 - 4 ft in width, and in some cases can exceed up to 6 ft. The leaves are dark green in color and alternating.

The flowers of Vernonia missurica bloom in July and August and are magenta with reddish-brown bracts. Each flower head is 4-7 in in length and 1/2 in in diameter, with 30–60 disk florets. Vernonia missurica has a central stout stem that is covered with white hairs, and the flowers grow close to each other and have rayless heads. Stems are hairy and reddish-brown.

Distribution
Vernonia missurica is native to the central and east central United States namely Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

Habitat
The species grows in river bottom woods, wet prairies, fens, and sedge meadows.

Ecology
Vernonia missurica is typically visited by long-tongued bees, butterflies, and skippers. In the absence of these pollinators, the plant is capable of self-pollinating. It is pollinated by various bees such as members of the genus Bombus (bumblebees), the tribe Epeolini (epeoline cuckoo bees), the family Halictidae (halictid bees), and the genus Andrena (miner bees). Lepidoptera (butterflies), including those of the family Hesperiidae (skippers), are also frequent visitors. Some caterpillars feed on the plant, including the most common guests of Grammia parthenice (Parthenice tiger moth), Perigea xanthioides (red groundling), and Papaipema cerussata (ironweed borer moth). Herbivorous mammals avoid the plant due to its bitter taste.