Verbesina alternifolia

Wingstem

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Family: Asteraceae (Aster-Sunflower family)

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: August - September

Wingstem gets its common name from the wing-like protrusions on its upper stems. Its lower leaves are alternate, but the upper leaves are often opposite. The yellow flowers that bloom in late summer have spreading, often drooping, petals.

Wingstem seeds have "wings" on either side and have 2 awns (bristles). The similar Yellow Crownsbeard's (Verbesina occidentalis) seeds lack awns.

13 June 2014 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA	20 June 2014 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	13 June 2014 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA	13 June 2014 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA
18 August 2014 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	18 August 2014 Manassas National Battlefield Park, Manassas, VA	24 August 2014 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA	19 October 2018 Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA (ripening seed pods)
28 October 2018 Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, Aden, VA (note awns and "wings" on each side of seeds)	28 October 2018 Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, Aden, VA (note awns and "wings" on each side of seeds)

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