ironweed

[ ahy-ern-weed ]

noun

any of certain North American composite plants of the genus Vernonia, having tubular, chiefly purple or red disk flowers.

Origin of ironweed

First recorded in 1810–20; iron + weed¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

His “Albany cycle,” seven novels including “ironweed,” for which he won the 1984 Pulitzer, are set there.
Great Weekend Reads: 4 New Novels, November 13, 2011 | Susan Salter Reynolds, Christopher Byrd, John Wilwol, Jennifer Miller | November 13, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
ironweed of royal purple, maroon-shot, mingles in illogical harmony with the blue vervain and magenta trumpet-weeds.
Minstrel Weather | Marian Storm
The ironweed was in bloom, and sitting on its purple top the dryfly sang the song of midsummer.
Up Terrapin River | Opie P. Read
The tree which bore such remarkable fruit was commonly an ironweed tree standing in a conspicuous situation.
The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) | Sir James George Frazer
As he knelt to fill the pail, the red haw and the purple ironweed met above his head.
Lewis Rand | Mary Johnston

ironweed and joepye-weed are such lusty, vigorous plants, and burdock and jimson-weed.
In the Open | Stanton Davis Kirkham

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