tall boneset

(Eupatorium altissimum)

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

 
tall boneset
 
Description

Tall boneset is a 3 to 6½ tall, perennial forb that rises on a single stem or pair of stems from a short caudex or stout rhizomes.

The stems are erect, sparsely branched near the top, and leafy. Near the top they are covered with long, soft, shaggy but unmatted hairs. The hairs are reduced descending the stem. The lower stem is hairless.

The leaves are opposite, numerous, hairy, lance-shaped, and pointed at both ends. They taper gradually to a narrow, wedge-shaped base. They taper from above the base to a sharp, drawn-out point forming concave sides along the tip. They are mostly stalkless or are attached to the stem on short leaf stalks. They are 2½ to 7 times as long as wide. The lower leaves are 2 to 4¾ long and ⅓″ to 1 wide, becoming smaller as they ascend the stem. There are 3 prominent veins running the length of the leaf. The 2 lateral veins are distinctly separated from the midvein all the way to the base. The blade margins are untoothed near the base, with sharp, forward-pointing teeth above the middle.

The inflorescence is a more or less flat-topped, much-branched cluster of many flower heads at the end of the stem.

The flower heads are cylinder-shaped, about ¼ tall and about wide. Each flower contains 5 disk florets and no ray florets. Each disk floret consists of a dull white flower tube with 5 short, spreading lobes. A white, forked style protrudes from the floral tube well beyond the lobes. There is little or no fragrance.

The fruit is a tiny dark achene with a small tuft of 30 to 40 light brown hairs about long.

 

Height

3 to 6½

 

Flower Color

White

 

Similar Species

Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is similar in appearance when not in bloom.

Common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum) leaves are fused around the stem at their bases. They do not have 3 prominent lateral veins. Instead, they have a conspicuous network of veins, depressed on the upper surface of the blade, giving the blade a wrinkled appearance. The leaf margins have rounded teeth all the way to the base. Each flower contains 9 to 23 disk florets. The flowers are fragrant. The fruit has a tuft of 20 to 30 white hairs.

False boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides var. corymbulosa) leaves are alternate and densely crowded, often appearing whorled.

Upland boneset (Eupatorium sessilifolium var. brittonianum) leaves are broadly rounded at the base. They have 3 prominent lateral veins. The leaf margins are toothed all the way to the base. Each flower contains 5 or sometimes 6 disk florets.

White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima) leaves are shorter, wider, and on long leaf stalks. The flower heads are much larger. It is found in woods, always in shade.

Habitat

Dry. Open woods, thickets, savannas, glades, and clearings.

Ecology

Flowering

July to September

 

Pests and Diseases

white snakeroot leaf miner (Liriomyza eupatoriella)

Use

 

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 29, 30.

2/5/2025    
     

Nativity

Native

     

Occurrence

 

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae (green algae and land plants)

Subkingdom

Viridiplantae (green plants)

Infrakingdom

Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)

Superdivision

Embryophyta (land plants)

Division

Tracheophyta (vascular plants)

Subdivision

Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants)

Class

Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)

Superorder

Asteranae

Order

Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers, and allies)

Family

Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, asters, and allies)

Subfamily

Asteroideae

Supertribe

Helianthodae

Tribe

Eupatorieae (bonesets, blazingstars, and allies)

Subtribe

Eupatoriinae

Genus

Eupatorium (bonesets)

   

Subordinate Taxa

 

   

Synonyms

Eupatorium elatum

Eupatorium floridanum

Eupatorium floridanum

Eupatorium ramosum

Eupatorium rupestre

Eupatorium saltuense

Uncasia altissima

   

Common Names

tall boneset

tall eupatorium

tall joepyeweed

tall thoroughwort

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Achene

A dry, one-chambered, single-seeded seed capsule, formed from a single carpel, with the seed attached to the membranous outer layer (wall) only by the seed stalk; the wall, formed entirely from the wall of the superior ovary, does not split open at maturity, but relies on decay or predation to release the contents.

 

Caudex

A short, thickened, woody, persistent enlargement of the stem, at or below ground level, used for water storage.

 

Rhizome

A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.

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Nancy Falkum

tall boneset
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tall boneset   tall boneset

Plant

 

 

     
tall boneset   tall boneset

Inflorescence

 

Inflorescence

     
tall boneset   tall boneset

Inflorescence

 

Leaves

 

Camera

Slideshows

Eupatorium altissimum TALL BONESET
Frank Mayfield

Eupatorium altissimum TALL BONESET

 

slideshow

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Other Videos

Tall Boneset Eupatorium altissimum)
Karl Foord

About

Published on Sep 16, 2013

 

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Nancy Falkum
8/20/2024

Location: Oronoco Prairie SNA

tall boneset
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Created: 4/3/2009

Last Updated:

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