Eutrochium maculatum (Spotted joe-pye weed)

Eutrochium maculatum

Spotted joe-pye weed, spotted trumpet-weed

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Eutrochium
Species	maculatum

About plant names...

An American native named Joe-Pye is believed to have used this plant to cure fevers, becoming the namesake for this and several related species.

Identification: Spotted Joe-Pye weed is 24-72" (60-182 cm) in height. Individual flowers are very small, forming clusters 4-6" (10-15 cm) across, that are pink or lavender in color. They are found in soil that is moist through much of the season. Leaves smell like vanilla when crushed. This plant can be distinguished from several close relatives by its deep purple or purple-spotted stem.

Online References:

Eutrochium maculatum on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Eutrochium maculatum at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Eupatorium maculatum on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Eutrochium maculatum on SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

Eutrochium maculatum on eFloras

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 436

8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 16 × 20" (40 × 52 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 11 cm)

8/2/2015 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby area, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

8/2/2015 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby area, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 12 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 14 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (16 × 11 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 13 × 10" (33 × 26 cm)

8/6/2013 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 4½" (12 × 12 cm)

Eutrochium maculatum description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 31 Aug 2021.

8/14/2015 · Roost Trail, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 6 × 5" (14 × 12 cm)

8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 12" (22 × 29 cm)

8/6/2013 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 16 cm)

7/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 12 × 13" (29 × 33 cm)

8/2/2015 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby area, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

8/4/2006 · Moss Glen Falls, Vermont

8/6/2013 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 13 cm)

8/2/2015 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby area, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

Young plants. · 6/22/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 14 × 12" (36 × 29 cm)

8/15/2021 · Bass Falls Preserve, Alna, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9 cm)

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)