Philadelphia fleabane

Family

Asteraceae

Scientific Name

Erigeron philadelphicus

Leaves

Another group of smaller, lanceolate leaves surround and clasp the stem near the base. The leaves and stems can be sparsely pubescent to quite hairy.

Identifying Characteristics

Sunflower or composite family (Asteraceae; Compositae). Philadelphia fleabane is a native, biennial or short-lived, somewhat weedy, perennial herb.The genus name, Erigeron stems from the Greek eri,"early" and geron "old man", probably because of the plant's hairy appearance. The common name fleabane is from Old English and it refers to the plant's odor, which supposedly can repel fleas. Similar species: Erigeron pulchellus has fewer ray flowers (40-60). E. quercifolius is shorter with violet or blue flowers. E. strigosus is an annual from 30-90cm tall, which lacks the clasping leaves surrounding the stem. Low Erigeron (E. pumilis Nutt.) is from 5-30cm tall and can have white, pink, or bluish rays.

Flower Seed Head

The hemispherical, aster-like flowers (1.5-2.5cm diameter), which bloom in the spring, have yellow centers of tubular disk flowers (2.5-3cm long), surrounded by from 100-150 narrow, white to pinkish-purple rays (5-10mm long). The flowers grow on branches atop a 30 to 90cm-tall leafless, usually single, stem that grows out of a sparse rosette of basal leaves (4-16cm long).Each branch can bear from a few to several flowers or drooping closed buds. The opened flowers close at night. The basal leaves are ovate (widest near the base) with toothed margins

Where Found

Philadelphia fleabane grows in moist to very wet conditions. Plants grow in wet meadows and grassy openings, flood plains, lowland woodlands, thickets, fields, stream banks, low pastures, wet roadsides and seepage areas. The size of the plant varies with habitat.

Growth Habit

upright and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

Varies:

pencil,

dime

Dominant Flower Color

Varies:

white,

yellow

Flower Symmetry

radial symmetery

Leaf Hairs

has hairs

Leaf Shape

spatulate

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Margin

Varies:

entire,

serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

none

Stem Hairs

has hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

fibrous

Life Cycle

biennial

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb