American burnweed
ExplorePlants
American burnweed
Erechtites hieraciifolius
American burnweed is a tall plant with soft, green leaves and fluffy white flowers. It often grows in sunny places and is loved by butterflies and bees!
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The American burnweed is a tall, slender plant with hollow, often reddish-tinged stems and deeply toothed leaves. Its small, greenish-white to yellowish flowers lack showy petals and are clustered at the stem's top, later forming fluffy white seed heads.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyAsteraceaeGenusErechtites
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Despite its common name, American burnweed doesn't sting or burn you if you touch it!
It's sometimes called 'pilewort' because it loves to grow in piles of disturbed earth or brush!
Its scientific name roughly translates to 'fire plant', reflecting its habit of growing after burns!
This plant’s hollow stems make it lighter, helping it grow tall quickly without using too much energy!
Special abilities
Ability
Fire Follower
American burnweed can quickly sprout and thrive after fires, helping it colonize open, sun-drenched areas fast.
Ability
Wind Rider
American burnweed has fluffy 'parachutes' on its seeds that help them catch the wind and travel far.
Ability
Tough Pioneer
American burnweed can grow in poor, disturbed soils, helping it survive where other plants struggle.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-250 cm
- Spread
- 15-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late summer to fall
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Honey bees visit its tiny flowers for nectar and pollen.
eats
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
Caterpillars of the Painted Lady butterfly munch on its leaves.
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
White-tailed deer may browse on young burnweed plants.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants unless an adult says it's okay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is American burnweed?
30-250 cm
How wide does American burnweed spread?
15-60 cm
How big are the flowers on American burnweed?
0.5-1.5 cm
When does American burnweed bloom?
Late summer to fall
Is American burnweed edible?
No
Is American burnweed toxic?
Mild
What is American burnweed's lifecycle?
Annual
How is American burnweed pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Loading map…
Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
.jpg&width=800)
