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Weed Description: An erect summer annual with alternate, lanceolate leaves that have toothed margins. Fireweed is primarily a weed of pastures, abandoned fields, and some agronomic crops. |
Fireweed or American Burnweed: Erechtites hieracifolia
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Weed Description: An erect summer annual with alternate, lanceolate leaves that have toothed margins. Fireweed is primarily a weed of pastures, abandoned fields, and some agronomic crops. |
| Leaves: Alternate, elliptic to
lanceolate in outline, approximately 2 to 8 inches long, 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches wide.
Leaves have a sharp-pointed apex (acute) and margins that are irregularly toothed. Stems: Erect, solid, usually without hairs but occasionally slightly hairy. Stems may range from 1 1/3 to 10 feet in height. |
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Flowers: Flowers occur in panicles at
the ends of stems. Individual flower heads are 3 to 10 mm wide, and cream to pinkish
in color. Fruit: A nutlet that contains many white pappus' that disperse the seed. |
| Identifying Characteristics: Erect plants with alternate, lanceolate leaves that have toothed margins. When mature, the feathery white seedheads are also key features of these plants. |  |