Difference between revisions of "Vernonia gigantea"

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==Ecology==
 
==Ecology==
 
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
 
===Habitat=== <!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
It can be found in disturbed successional areas (Emery et al 2011). It is commonly found in lowland forest habitats (Emery et al 2011).
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In the Coastal Plain, ''V. gigantea'' has been found in loam soil atop of a ravine; loamy sand in mesic hardwoods; river hammocks; marshes; floodplain forests; upland mixed forest; shortleaf pine-post &red oak-mockernut woods; pine-oak-hickory woods in a ravine; annually burned upland pineland; calcareous slopes; sandy loam in mature hardwoods; sandy open live oak hammocks; sand beneath cabbage palm thicket; calcareous mixed flatwoods hammocks; hammock surrounded by marsh; lowland forests habitats; and sandy peat in a clearing of cabbage palm-live oak hammock (Emery et al. 2011; FSU Herbarium). It is found in disturbed successional areas (Emery et al. 2011) along with moist loam of roadside depressions; loamy sand along edge of channel; open mixed hardwood forest between power-line and road; along powerline corridors; and grassy clearings of pine-palmetto flats. Substrate types include loam, loamy sand, sandy loam, calcareous soils, limestone, sand, and sandy peat (FSU Herbarium).
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Associated species include ''Eupatorium fisulosum, Arnoflossum ovatum, Smilax bona-nox, Morus rubra, Campsis radicans'', and cabbage palm (FSU Herbarium).
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===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
 
===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
 
===Seed dispersal===
 
===Seed dispersal===

Revision as of 07:46, 15 October 2015

Vernonia gigantea
Vernonia gigantea Gil.jpg
Photo taken by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae
Genus: Vernonia
Species: V. gigantea
Binomial name
Vernonia gigantea
(Walter) Trel.
VERN GIGA dist.jpg
Natural range of Vernonia gigantea from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: giant ironweed

Taxonomic notes

Description

A description of Vernonia gigantea is provided in The Flora of North America.

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain, V. gigantea has been found in loam soil atop of a ravine; loamy sand in mesic hardwoods; river hammocks; marshes; floodplain forests; upland mixed forest; shortleaf pine-post &red oak-mockernut woods; pine-oak-hickory woods in a ravine; annually burned upland pineland; calcareous slopes; sandy loam in mature hardwoods; sandy open live oak hammocks; sand beneath cabbage palm thicket; calcareous mixed flatwoods hammocks; hammock surrounded by marsh; lowland forests habitats; and sandy peat in a clearing of cabbage palm-live oak hammock (Emery et al. 2011; FSU Herbarium). It is found in disturbed successional areas (Emery et al. 2011) along with moist loam of roadside depressions; loamy sand along edge of channel; open mixed hardwood forest between power-line and road; along powerline corridors; and grassy clearings of pine-palmetto flats. Substrate types include loam, loamy sand, sandy loam, calcareous soils, limestone, sand, and sandy peat (FSU Herbarium).

Associated species include Eupatorium fisulosum, Arnoflossum ovatum, Smilax bona-nox, Morus rubra, Campsis radicans, and cabbage palm (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

Seed dispersal

Seed bank and germination

It seems that heating at low temperatures stimulates germination in V. gigantea. It had a 3% average germination rate under control (25 degrees Celsius) conditions, but slightly higher rates when exposed to direct flame (Emery et al 2011).

Fire ecology

It seems to thrive after low-intensity fires (Emery et al 2011).

Pollination

Use by animals

Diseases and parasites

Conservation and Management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

Emery, S. M., J. Uwimbabazi, et al. (2011). "Fire intensity effects on seed germination of native and invasive Eastern deciduous forest understory plants." Forest Ecology and Management 261: 1401-1408.