The North American species of Vernonia.

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1819.  (Oct.) Found iron-weed all day, and fine extensive peach orchards of several acres each.—W. Faux, ‘Memorable Days in America,’ p. 185 (Lond., 1823).

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1823.  Several fine neighbourhoods of rich land [in Missouri], full of iron-weed, but not so rank as in Kentucky, yet bearing plenty of huge sugar-trees.—Id., p. 210.

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1880.  

        And widely weaves the Iron-Weed
  A woof of purple dyes
Where Autumn’s royal feet may tread
  When bankrupt Summer flies.
John Hay, ‘Pike County Ballads,’ p. 97. (N.E.D.), ‘The Prairie.’    

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