Tag: Vernonia

With a genus containing over 1,000 species, not all Vernonia plants are safe for human consumption. However, the most notable edible species, *Vernonia amygdalina*, is widely consumed as a leafy vegetable in many West and Central African countries and is known as bitter leaf. Understanding which species are edible is crucial for safe culinary and medicinal use.

While some tropical species of the genus *Vernonia* are consumed as leafy greens, most North American ironweed varieties are not palatable to humans or livestock. So, can you eat ironweed, or is it a toxic plant to avoid?