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Native Plant Trust: Go Botany Discover thousands of New England plants

Erigeron philadelphicus — Philadelphia fleabane

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Facts

Phildelphia fleabane is native to North America and introduced in Europe and Asia. There are two varieties in New England. One (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus) is a common and widespread plant of open, frequently human-disturbed sites, and the other (E. philadelphicus var. provancheri) is a very rare endemic of high-pH river shore ledges, restricted to Vermont, New York, Quebec and Ontario.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields, ridges or ledges, shores of rivers or lakes

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
  • terrestrial
  • wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Leaf type
leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
Leaf arrangement
alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
Leaf blade edges
  • the edge of the leaf blade has lobes, or it has both teeth and lobes
  • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
Flower type in flower heads
the flower head has tubular disk flowers in the center and ray flowers, these often strap-shaped, around the periphery
Ray flower color
  • pink to red
  • white
Tuft or plume on fruit
at least a part of the plume is made up of fine bristles
Spines on plant
the plant has no spines
Leaf blade length
15–150 mm
Show all characteristics

  • Flowers

    Bases of bract appendages
    NA
    Bract cycle number
    • there are three or more cycles of bracts
    • there are two main cycles of bracts
    Bract outer side hair type
    • the bracts are hairy on their outer surfaces, with hairs having glands (a swelling at the tip of the hair)
    • the bracts are hairy, with simple hairs on their outer surface
    • the bracts are not hairy on their outer surface
    Bract outer side hairs
    • the bracts are hairy on their outer surfaces
    • the bracts are not hairy on their outer surfaces
    Disk flower color
    yellow
    Disk flower lobe number
    5
    Disk flower reproductive parts
    the disk flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts
    Disk width
    6–15 mm
    Flower head number
    • each flowering stem has four or more flower heads on it
    • each flowering stem has only one to three flower heads on it
    Flower head outer flowers
    at the outer edge of the flower head, each flower has a single enlarged lobe or strap
    Flower head platform
    the base has no bristles or papery scales
    Flower head platform surface
    NA
    Flower head profile
    the disk is flat or nearly flat across the top
    Flower type in flower heads
    the flower head has tubular disk flowers in the center and ray flowers, these often strap-shaped, around the periphery
    Height of flower head base
    4–6 mm
    Inflorescence branching (Solidago)
    NA
    Inflorescence shape
    the inflorescence is flat-topped in profile
    Ovary cross-section
    the ovary is compressed (flattened)
    Ovary hair type
    the ovary has hairs on it, but the hairs have no glands
    Ovary hairs
    the ovary has hairs on it
    Ovary lines or ribs
    there are two lines or ribs visible on the ovary
    Ray flower color
    • pink to red
    • white
    Ray flower reproductive parts
    the ray flowers have carpels or stamens, but not both
    Ray flowers
    more than 50
    Ray length
    5–10 mm
    Reproductive system
    some of the flowers on the plant have only carpels or stamens, while others have both carpels and stamens
    Scale tip
    NA
    Width of flower head base
    6–15 mm

  • Fruits or seeds

    Number of pappus parts
    11 or more
    Ovary length in developed fruit
    0.6–1.1 mm
    Seed hair tuft tips
    the pappus hairs are slender
    Seed hairs uniform
    all the pappus hairs are approximately the same length
    Seed tuft scale number
    0
    Seed tuft type
    the pappus is made of very fine hairs or bristles
    Top of disk flower ovary
    NA
    Tuft or plume on fruit
    at least a part of the plume is made up of fine bristles

  • Glands or sap

    Leaf blade glands
    the leaf blades have no glandular (translucent) dots or scales
    Sap
    the sap is clear and watery

  • Growth form

    Growth form
    the plant has one or more free-standing stems
    Plant lifespan
    • the plant is annual, it lacks evidence of previous years' growth
    • the plant is biennial, it appears as either first year (non-reproductive) plants or second year plants with flowers or fruit
    • the plant is perennial, it shows evidence of previous year's leaves, stems or stem bases
    Spines on plant
    the plant has no spines
    Underground organs
    the plant has a caudex (the root mass is firm and hardened at the top)

  • Leaves

    Hairs on underside of leaf blade
    the underside of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
    Leaf arrangement
    alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
    Leaf blade base
    the leaf has no petiole
    Leaf blade base shape
    the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow
    Leaf blade bloom
    the underside of the leaf has no noticeable bloom
    Leaf blade edges
    • the edge of the leaf blade has lobes, or it has both teeth and lobes
    • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
    Leaf blade length
    15–150 mm
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    • the leaf blade is oblong (rectangular but with rounded ends)
    • the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
    Leaf blade surface colors
    there is no noticeable color variation on the upper surface of the leaf
    Leaf blade tip
    • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
    Leaf blade width
    10–40 mm
    Leaf disposition
    • the leaves are nearly similar in size, prominence of teeth, and length of stalks throughout the stem
    • the lower leaves are larger, toothier, and/or on longer stalks than the upper leaves
    Leaf spines
    there are no spines on the leaf edges
    Leaf stalk
    the leaves have no leaf stalks, but attach directly to the stem
    Leaf stalk length
    0 mm
    Leaf tip extension
    NA
    Leaf type
    leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
    Leaflet number
    0
    Specific leaf type
    • the leaf has a row of two or more lobes on each side of the central axis
    • the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets

  • Place

    Habitat
    • terrestrial
    • wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields
    • ridges or ledges
    • shores of rivers or lakes

  • Scent

    Plant odor
    the plant does not have much of an odor

  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Flowering stem cross-section
    the flowering stem is circular, or with lots of small angles
    Leaves on stem
    there is at least one full leaf above the base of the flowering stem
    Stem bloom
    there is no powdery or waxy film on the stem
    Stem internode hair direction
    the hairs point mostly upwards to outwards
    Stem internode hair type
    • at least some of the hairs on the stem have glands
    • the stem has no hairs between the nodes
    Stem internode hairs
    • the stem has hairs between the nodes
    • the stem has no hairs between the nodes
    Stem wings
    the stem does not have wings on it

Wetland status

Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FAC)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

var. philadelphicus

Massachusetts
widespread (S-rank: S5)

var. provancheri

Vermont
extremely rare (S-rank: S1)

Subspecies and varieties

Erigeron philadelphicus L. var. philadelphicus is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT, from open, frequently human-disturbed habitats.E. philadelphicus var. provancheri (Victorin & Rouss.) Boivin is known from VT, on high-pH river shore ledges, and is of conservation concern.

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

5.  Erigeron philadelphicus L. NC

Philadelphia fleabane. 5a. Erigeron philadelphicus L. var. glaber Henry; E. philadelphicus L. var. scaturicola (Fern.) Fern.; E. purpureus Ait.; 5b. E. philadelphicus L. ssp. provancheri (Victorin & Rouss.) J.K. Morton; E. provancheri Victorin & Rouss. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Fields, roadsides, lawns, clearings; also basic, river shore ledges.

1a.  Reproductive stems 20–70 cm tall; basal leaves usually withering prior to anthesis; stems, leaf blades, and involucral bracts usually pubescent; ray flowers pink or white tinged with pink; capitula 18–25 mm wide … 5a. E. philadelphicus var. philadelphicus

1b.  Reproductive stems 4–18 (–30) cm tall; basal leaves persisting through flowering; 
stems, leaf blades, and involucral bracts glabrous or sparsely pubescent; ray flowers white 
to pale pink; capitula 10–15 mm wide 
 … 5b. E. philadelphicus var. provancheri (Victorin & Rouss.) Boivin

Variety philadelphicus is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. It occurs in open, frequently 
human-disturbed, habitats. Variety provancheri is known from VT. It occurs on high-pH, river shore ledges and is of conservation concern.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Erigeron pulchellus:
flowering plants with mostly 1-4 flower heads, each flower head with 50-100 ray flowers with a ray 0.8-1.7 mm wide (vs. E. philadelphicus, flowering plants with mostly 3-30 flower heads, each flower head with 150-400 ray flowers with a ray up to 0.5 mm wide).

Synonyms

  • Erigeron philadelphicus var. glaber Henry
  • Erigeron philadelphicus var. scaturicola (Fern.) Fern.
  • Erigeron purpureus Ait.

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Erigeron