Erechtites hieracifolia (L.) Raf., 1821
Fireweed, American burnweed, pileweed
Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 2.5-5 mm long, 0.5-1.1 mm wide, in side view mostly +/- equal thickness (cylindrical) or widest in the middle, +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section round (terete), basal scar (carpopodium) inconspicuous and undifferentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw, rarely dark brown, smooth (except at cellular level), with simple straight hairs, rarely glands or glandular hairs, thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs present, (8-)10(-15), their surfaces smooth, with no hairs (glabrous).
Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 8-16 mm long, pappus elements numerous, elements falling off individually, the individual bristles smooth (by misinterpretation) or rough / serrated (barbellate), +/- equal width along length, white / translucent or pinkish.
Note: As in many other close relatives of Senecio, the pappus of this species is cast off so readily that it may in practice rarely be present.
Annual herb, seeds wind-dispersed. Tropical to warm-temperate regions. Found in various disturbed areas, especially after fire, but also in urban areas.
Eastern Europe, southern China, Japan, Taiwan, rarely in southeastern Asia, New Zealand.