One March, during a deep snow, a large flock of buntings stayed about my vineyards for several days, feeding upon the seeds of redroot and other weeds that stood above the snow.
"The Wit of a Duck and Other Papers"
John Burroughs
The weeds commonly called redroot or iron-weed are very good for this.
"Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium"
Jessie H. Bancroft
redroot will grow three or four feet high when it has the whole season before it; but let it get a late start, let it come up in August, and it scarcely gets above the ground before it heads out, and apparently goes to work with all its might and main to mature its seed.
"A Year in the Fields"
John Burroughs