Question: Found these Joe-pye Weeds at the shore of the 2nd pond in the Three Ponds Area of the WMNF in …
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Question
Found these Joe-pye Weeds at the shore of the 2nd pond in the Three Ponds Area of the WMNF in NH. I'm trying to identify the species. These plants were about 30 inches high and had purple stems. Are their height (short for Eutrochium) and the purple stem diagnostic? Note what appears to be flower buds at the axil between stem and leaf about half way up the plant. Is this diagnostic of species?
Answer
Dear gdewolf, these plants appear to be Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe-pye-weed). The stem coloration nor the height is diagnostic. These plants occasionally have green stems with red to purple spots, but sometimes the background color becomes completely suffused with purple. Likewise, the plants can be very short in some situations (especially exposed lake/pond shores). Best wishes.
