Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) is now blooming in sunny woodlands in western Pennsylvania.
It’s easy to identify by its ragged yellow flowers whose central disk stands up and whose petals look as if they’ve been blown back by a strong wind.
Failing that, you’ll be able to identify it by the stem which has several “wings” or flanges that run its length.
Wing. Stem.
(photos by Kate St. John)
Remember when you learned about these???? LOL…..the Summer Azure like to use these as host plants and lots of butterflies and other pollinators love them too…
And it is quite tall – close to six feet sometimes. I’ve seen it many places, but the last one was at Nine Mile Run walking trail near Commercial Street.