FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Dark leaves are tapered at both ends and margins have small teeth or spines. Deep purple flower color is distinct among wetland species.
Synonym(s): Vernonia harperi
Description: Very tall perennial herb, to 2 or 2.5 m high, with dark green leaves and dark purple flowers.
Leaves: Dark green, serrated with small spines, lance-shaped leaves.
Flowers/Fruit: Deep purple, narrow-petaled flowers in profusion at stem tips, not usually all flowering at the same time. Usually has 30 to more than 50 flowering heads on a plant.
Habit and Range: Found in marshes, stream and river shores, wet meadows, moist roadside ditches, and sunny openings in bottomland wetlands. Common across the Mountains and Piedmont, but less common in the Coastal Plain.
