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Fireweed, pilewort

Erechtites hieracifolia

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39.9878, -75.3062

Field Notes

Description:

Whatever this plant is the bees (small bees) absolutely love it! It's covered in these small bees. Anyone know what kind of plant it is? Or for that matter, what kind of bees they are?

Habitat:

Beside my house. Not sure if it's an invasive and should be removed...or allowed to continue to satisfy those bees.

Notes:

Not sure if it's an invasive and should be removed...or allowed to continue to satisfy those bees.

Species ID Suggestions

Fireweed, pilewort, American burnweed

Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Raf.ex DC
Mostly Microbe
1

Comments (5)
Mostly Microbe
Thank you KristalWatrous for the info on the hover flies! I've clearly never had an entomology course and am in dire need of one! No time for that, so will have to learn by following your informative posts here on ProjectNoah! Love this place and its contributors such as yourself.
KristalWatrous
The little insects are hover flies in the family Syrphidae.
Mostly Microbe
Made a positive ID of this plant using an amazing reference book I found by Peter Del Tredici, Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast. This book includes notes by Philadelphia's famous botanist/gardener, John Bartram, about this plant. The book also describes how Native Americans used this plant for hemorrhoids (piles). Now I know this plant is native to eastern North America and it is now welcome in my garden.
IanMichaelIleto
try starting your search with the genus Emilia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilia_%28genus%29 Welcome to Project Noah ^_^

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Flowers of North America

Tags

Photographed
PublishedSeptember 13, 2011

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