100 More Species #21: Rough daisy fleabane

[urbpan]

Rough fleabane Erigeron strigosus

I should caution anyone reading this blog that my plant identifications, how you say, lack rigor. I used a combination of the Peterson's wildflower guide (my mom's 1968 edition) and the Go Botany website to eliminate the more commonly seen annual fleabane E. annuus.

Fleabanes generally bloom earlier than the similarly daisy-like asters. The wonderful name comes from the optimistic notion that the flower can be used to repel fleas. This species is known as prairie fleabane in the western states, and has been introduced into Europe, where it can be invasive.

Comments

[temeres.livejournal.com]

The only Erigeron I'm familiar with (here in SE England) is the Blue Fleabane, E acer, though my (ageing) field guide does list annuus as an introduction in France and Germany. No mention of strigosus, though.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

I saw lots of E. karvinskianus when I was in Jersey.