Erechtites hieraciifolius

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Erechtites hieraciifolius
Erechtites hieracifolia2.jpg
Photo taken in Tokyo, Japan
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Erechtites
Species:
E. hieraciifolius
Binomial name
Erechtites hieraciifolius
(L.) Raf. ex DC.
Synonyms [1]
Synonymy
  • Erechtites hieracifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. [2]
  • Erechtites hieraciifolia(L.) Raf. ex DC. [2]
  • Erechtites hieracifolia(L.) Raf. ex DC. [2]
  • Erechtites agrestis(Sw.) Standl. & Steyerm.
  • Erechtites cacalioides(Fisch. ex Spreng.) Less.
  • Erechtites carduifolius(Cass.) DC.
  • Erechtites praealtusRaf.
  • Erechtites sulcataGardner
  • Gynura asperaRidl.
  • Gynura malasica(Ridl.) Ridl.
  • Neoceis carduifoliaCass.
  • Senecio carduifolius(Cass.) Desf.
  • Senecio fischeriSch.Bip.
  • Senecio hieraciifoliusL.
  • Senecio hieracifoliusL. [2]
  • Gynura zeylanicaTrim., syn of var. cacalioides
  • Ptileris hieracifolia(L.) Raf. ex B.D.Jacks., syn of var. cacalioides
  • Senecio cacalioidesFisch. ex Spreng., syn of var. cacalioides
  • Sonchus agrestisSwartz, syn of var. cacalioides
  • Erechtites megalocarpaFernald, syn of var. megalocarpus

Erechtites hieraciifolius (fireweed, American burnweed, or pilewort) is a plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae. [3] It is native to the Americas, [4] but is found many places around the world having been introduced by human activity. [5] such as in Hawaii, China, Europe and Southeast Asia. [6] [7]

Contents

Description

Erechtites hieraciifolius is an annual herb with alternate, simple leaves, on thick, green stems that grow to 0.4-3 m or more in height. The leaves are alternate, serrated, 5-20 cm long, 0.5-6.5 cm wide, and range from unlobed to deeply lobed, with the lobe pattern superficially resembling wild lettuces, which are in the same family but not closely related. When crushed, all parts of the species are aromatic. The flower heads are yellow or pink, borne in fall. The heads are followed by cluster of small, wispy achenes. The plant often branches and grows in a clump with multiple stems. [4] [8]

Distribution and habitat

E. hieraciifolius is distributed from Newfoundland west to Saskatchewan and south to southern Florida and eastern Texas. It is also found in the West Indies and throughout tropical America. It grows in disturbed soil in almost any habitat except those that are extremely xeric, responding to even small disturbances such as a tree tip-up mound. It is most abundant in areas that have been extensively disturbed, like where severe fire, timber harvest, or bulldozing has occurred. [9]

Ecology

This species benefits from fire, and is often one of the earliest pioneer species of areas that have recently burned, hence some of its common names. It can germinate in response to fire, [10] and litter removal has also been shown to improve germination success. [11] E. hieraciifolius has been observed as opportunistically increasing in response to fire, but decreasing in the years following a fire disturbance to its original, pre-fire abundance. [12]

It prefers moist sites but can handle gravelly soil and some degree of dry conditions. It also grows well in urban areas and around humans. [4]

E. hieraciifolius is resistant to the herbicide imazypyr [13] as well as imazypyr-glyphosate. [14]

The flowers are pollinated primarily by wasps and honey bees (Apis mellifera). The seeds are wind-dispersed, and are used as a minor food source by birds. [6]

References

  1. The Plant List, Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC.
  2. 1 2 3 4 International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code) see sections 60C.1 and 60G.1
  3. "Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  4. 1 2 3 "Erechtites hieraciifolius (Linnaeus) Rafinesque ex de Candolle". Flora of North America .
  5. "Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC". Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER).
  6. 1 2 United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile for Erechtites hieraciifolia
  7. Flora of China, 梁子菜 liang zi cai, Erechtites hieraciifolius (Linnaeus) Rafinesque ex Candolle
  8. Core, Earl L. (1970-11-15). "Carolina Flora Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas A. E. Radford H. E. Ahles C. R. Bell". BioScience. 20 (22): 1217–1217. doi:10.2307/1295633. ISSN   0006-3568.
  9. "Erechtites hieraciifolius (Fireweed) - FSUS". fsus.ncbg.unc.edu. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  10. Chapman, Rachel Ross; Crow, Garrett E. (1981). "Application of Raunkiaer's Life form System to Plant Species Survival After Fire". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 108 (4): 472–478. doi:10.2307/2484448. ISSN   0040-9618.
  11. Glasgow, Lance S.; Matlack, Glenn R. (2007-01-30). "Prescribed burning and understory composition in a temperate deciduous forest, Ohio, USA". Forest Ecology and Management. 238 (1): 54–64. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.344. ISSN   0378-1127.
  12. "Prescribed fire effects in the Ozarks of Missouri: the Chilton Creek Project 1996-2001 | Fire Research and Management Exchange System". www.frames.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  13. Iglay, R.B; Leopold, B.D.; Miller, D.A.; Wes Burger Jr., L. (2010). "Effect of plant community composition on plant response to fire and herbicide treatments". Forest Ecology and Management. 260 (4): 543–548 via Elsevier Science Direct.
  14. Jones, Judy D. J.; Chamberlain, Michael J. (2004). "Efficacy of herbicides and fire to improve vegetative conditions for northern bobwhites in mature pine forests". Wildlife Society Bulletin. 32 (4): 1077–1084. doi:10.2193/0091-7648(2004)032[1077:EOHAFT]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   1938-5463.

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