Ironweed

Ironweed is a plant I had never seen or heard of before, until I ran into it on the banks of the Mississippi River.  I was drawn to its deep purple blossoms.

This is prairie ironweed, as opposed to the similar tall ironweed.

Ironweed apparently takes its common name from its strong stem, and perhaps also from the rusty color of its faded blooms.

Its scientific name is Veronia fasciculata.  Veronia comes from the name of noted botanist William Vernon.  Fasciculata refers to the way the flowers are clumped closely together.  In tall ironweed the blooms spread out more widely.

This is a native plant, and is sometimes used in domestic flowerbeds.