Verbesina virginica
species of plant
Verbesina virginica, known by the common names white crownbeard, or frostweed is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.
It is native to the Southeastern United States, where it is found in calcareous soil, often in bottomland thickets and edges of woods.
It is a tall perennial species. It produces heads of white flowers in late summer through fall. The name "frostweed" refers to its tendency to exude water from the base of its stems that then freeze and create ribbon-like ice structures during wintertime.
Description
V. virginica grows to 2.1 metres (6.9 ft) tall with winged stalks and alternate, oval or lanceolate leaves. The leaves are up to 18 centimetres (7.1 in) long and 5.1 centimetres (2 in) wide and slightly toothed. Flower heads consist of multiple flowers arranged in a cluster, or corymb, at the terminal end of the stems. Each flower head actually consists of 1 to 5 ray florets and 8 to 15 disk florets.
Distribution and habitat
This species is endemic to a region from Iowa to Pennsylvania down the east coast to Florida's peninsula.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Verbesina virginica” is species of plant. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Verbesina, virginica and species, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “species of plant” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jan 29, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q15564201. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Verbesina virginica”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Verbesina virginica primary sources, Verbesina virginica archive and Verbesina research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Verbesina virginica”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Verbesina virginica” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.