ˌvərˈnōnēə noun
Etymology: New Latin, from William Vernon died 1711 English botanist + New Latin -ia
1. capitalized : a genus of chiefly tropical herbs or shrubs (family Compositae) occurring chiefly in So. America but including some that are native to No. America and having alternate leaves mostly red or purple and terminal cymose heads of perfect tubular flowers — see ironweed
2. -s : any plant of the genus Vernonia