Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC.

Pilewort; Fireweed; American Burnweed

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Fireweed is a native herbaceous annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Fireweed occurs on disturbed sites such as clear cuts, around field edges, around beaver ponds, on river banks, on roadsides, and on fire scars. It is an annual with a tap root. The stems are erect, glabrous or variously pubescent, green in color, and often branched above the middle. Leaves are basal and cauline. The basal leaves usually wither before flowering. Stem leaves are alternate, subsessile, lanceolate in outline, with entire, serrate, or weakly lobed margins. The leaves have an unpleasant odor when crushed. Flowers are produced in heads arranged in corymbs. The heads are urceolate in outline with 21 erect phyllaries. Each head has 10-100 whitish, tubular disc flowers. The fruit is a brown achene with a tuff of white barbellulate pappus bristles. The seed of this species are wind dispersed and produced in great abundance. They can remain viable in the soil for many years. It is often one of the earliest pioneer species to colonize disturbed habitats such as fire scars, hence the common name. Fireweed is pollinated primarily by wasps. It is considered a minor agricultural weed and can harbor crop pathogens. It has been introduced in Hawaii, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Native Americans used Fireweed to treat rashes, dysentery, eczema, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids. It has also been used to produce a blue dye for fabric. – A. Diamond.

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Native FAC- (NWPL) G5T5 (Global Rank)

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