Curlytop or Arkansas Ironweed

The genus Vernonia was named after William Vernon, an English botanist who traveled and collected plants in Maryland during 1698. The specific epithet arkansana, on the other hand, refers to the state of Arkansas, where this plant is particularly dominant, especially in the Arkansas Ozarks. Commonly known as Curlytop ironweed or Arkansas ironweed, this plant is characterized by its prominently curled, thread-like bracts found at the base of each flower. The name ‘Curlytop’ aptly describes this distinctive feature, while the common name ‘Arkansas’ ironweed highlights its widespread presence in the state.

Vernonia arkansana has large flowers, exceeding those of other ironwoods. Each flowerhead is about an inch wide (or more) and consists of 50 to 100 bright magenta florets. The florets have 5 lobes with long exerted, bifurcated styles brushed with white pollen.

Curlytop ironweed is a perennial native wildflower growing to about 4 to 5 ft tall. Like all ironweeds, it is prone to hybridize with other nearby ironwoods. The narrow leaves are alternate, oval and sessile (occasionally with short petioles). They are glabrous to slightly hairy. The stem is typically glabrous, occasionally with some hairs at near the tip.

After flowering, fluffy, soft brown seed heads appear. The seed heads are quite beautiful and attract birds such as Goldfinches, sparrows and junco.

Bees, wasps, butterflies and skippers are all visitors to these unique flowers.

I've also noted a very tiny Braconid wasp visiting the flowers.

Vernonia arkansana is found in a variety of habitats from open woods, bottomland forests and prairies, gravel and sand bars along streams and fens, and occasionally glades.

Arkansas ironweed is found in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. It is not well documented on Natureserve. It is listed as Vulnerable in Kansas with all other states within its range showing 'No Status Rank'.

In Arkansas, Vernonia arkansana has a C-value of 7 in the group of 4-7, meaning "Typically matrix taxa in intact, stable habitats, with some limited ability to respond to destabilizing forces and repopulate areas from which they have been extirpated."

This is a terrific plant for a native garden as it rarely flops and invites many interesting insects. On top of that, it is not broused by deer and other herbivores due to its bitter taste.