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The Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a perennial herb that is native to central and eastern North America. It grows in grasslands, fields, and wastelands, reaching a height of about 1.8 m. It was distributed to Japan in the early 1960s as a nectar plant for beekeeping, and has been naturalized in Hokkaido and Nagano Prefecture since around 1980. The entire plant is rough with short bristles. The cauline leaves are elliptic with pointed tips and low serrations on the margins. The stem is well branched at the top and produces a yellow flower head from spring to fall. The flower heads have 3 to 8 ray florets, which droop downward after flowering. The fruit is a flattened achene with two short horns. It is also known as "Hachimitsu-so" (honey grass).
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