The Vernonia genus includes 350 species[1] of shrubs and forbs in the Asteraceae (sunflower) family. Some species of Vernonia are also known as ironweed.
The genus is known to have dark purple flowers. The Vernonia genus takes its name from William Vernon, an English botanist. There have been many subsections and sub-genera named in the genus. Some ecologists have segregated the genus into different genera.
