Erechtites hieraciifolius (Linnaeus) Rafinesque ex A.P. de Candolle. Fireweed, American Burnweed. Phen: Late Jul-Nov. Hab: In disturbed soil in nearly all habitats except the extremely xeric, present in most parts of the modern (beat-up) landscape at least as seedlings, liable to turn up at the smallest disturbance (such as small tree-fall tip-up mounds or campfires, even in large natural areas), most abundant in areas extensively disturbed or scarified by timber-harvest, bulldozing, or severe fire. Dist: NL (Newfoundland) west to SK, south to s. FL and e. TX; West Indies; tropical America.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: Perhaps the only other species in our area as adept at appearing (seemingly from nowhere) at small soil disturbances in forests are Phytolacca americana and the moss Atrichum angustatum (Bridel) Bruch & Schimper.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl7, Mex, Mi, Tn, Va; = Erechtites hieracifolia var. hieracifolia – Bah, C, G, K1, SE1; = Erechtites hieraciifolia var. hieraciifolia – Pa; = Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. var. hieraciifolius – Ar, FNA20, K4, NE, NY; < Erechtites hieracifolia – GrPl, GW2, Oh3, RAB, S, W, WV; > Erechtites hieracifolia var. hieracifolia – F, Il, Tat; > Erechtites hieracifolia var. intermedia Fernald – F, Il, Tat; > Erechtites hieracifolia var. praealta (Raf.) Fernald – F, Il; < Erechtites hieraciifolia – NcTx; < Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. – WH3; < Senecio hieraciifolius L. var. hieracifolius – K3

Links to other floras: = Erechtites hieraciifolius var. hieraciifolius - FNA20

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (name change)
• Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 6