Wingstem

Verbesina alternifolia may be no longer present in Delaware.

Plants (30–)100–200+ cm (perennating bases ± erect or horizontal rhizomes, internodes winged, at least proximal). Leaves all or mostly alternate (proximal sometimes opposite); blades lance-elliptic or lanceolate to lance-linear, 10–25+ × 2–8+ cm, bases narrowly cuneate, margins coarsely toothed to subentire, apices attenuate, faces scabrellous. Heads (3–)8–25(–50+) in corymbiform to paniculiform arrays. Involucres ± saucerlike, 10–12+ mm diam. Phyllaries 8–12+ in 1(–2) series, ± spreading to reflexed, spatulate or lance-linear to linear, 3–8+ mm. Ray florets (2–)6–8+; laminae 15–25+ mm. Disc florets 40–60+; corollas yellow. Cypselae dark brown to black, oblanceolate to ± orbiculate, 4.5–5 mm, faces sparsely hirtellous to glabrate; pappi 1.5–2 mm. 2n = 68.

Coreopsis alternifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 909. 1753

Verbesina alternifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is commonly known as wingstem or yellow ironweed. It is native to North America.

It is a larval host to the gold moth (Basilodes pepita) and the silvery checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis).

Close-up of Verbesina alternifolia stem showing wings

Mature flower heads

Detail of immature seed head