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Erigeron strigosus — rough fleabane

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New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Facts

Rough fleabane is native to North America and introduced into Europe. Fleabanes (Erigeron) were at one time thought to repel fleas, but they are not actually effective at this. There are two varieties in New England.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields

Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
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 no teeth or 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
  • blue to purple
  • 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
10–170 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)
    Bract outer side hairs
    the bracts are hairy on their outer surfaces
    Bract texture
    the bracts have a similar texture to a leaf
    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
    5–12 mm
    Flower head number
    each flowering stem has four or more 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
    2–4 mm
    Inflorescence branching (Solidago)
    NA
    Inflorescence shape
    • the inflorescence is flat-topped in profile
    • the inflorescence is not flat-topped but appears rounded, with some flower heads distinctly higher than others
    Ovary cross-section
    the ovary is compressed (flattened)
    Ovary profile
    in profile, the ovary is oblong (roughly rectangular but rounded at the ends)
    Ray flower color
    • blue to purple
    • pink to red
    • white
    Ray flower reproductive parts
    the ray flowers have carpels or stamens, but not both
    Ray flowers
    • 26-50
    • more than 50
    Ray length
    4–6 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
    5–8 mm

  • Fruits or seeds

    Number of pappus parts
    • 10
    • 11 or more
    Ovary length in developed fruit
    0.5–1.2 mm
    Seed hair tuft tips
    the pappus hairs are slender
    Seed hairs uniform
    there are two distinct lengths of pappus hairs
    Seed tuft type
    • the pappus is made of flat scales that are not split or frayed at the tips
    • 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
    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

    Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Hairs on underside of leaf blade
    the underside of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
    Hairs on upper side of leaf blade
    the upper side 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 a distinct petiole
    • 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 no teeth or lobes
    • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
    Leaf blade length
    10–170 mm
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
    • the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    Leaf blade surface colors
    there is no noticeable color variation on the upper surface of the leaf
    Leaf blade width
    2.5–15 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 leaf stalks
    • the leaves have no leaf stalks, but attach directly to the stem
    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 leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets
    Teeth per side of leaf blade
    At least 0

  • Place

    Habitat
    terrestrial
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields

  • 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 are pressed flat against the plant, pointing either towards the plant's tip or towards it's base
    • the hairs point mostly upwards to outwards
    Stem internode hair length
    0.1–0.8 mm
    Stem internode hair type
    the hairs on the stem are plain, without glands or branches, and not tangled
    Stem internode hairs
    the stem has hairs between the nodes
    Stem wings
    • the stem does not have wings on it
    • the stem has wings on it that run down the stem from the leaf nodes

Wetland status

Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)

New England distribution and conservation status

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. septentrionalis

Massachusetts
unranked (S-rank: SNR)

var. strigosus

Massachusetts
widespread (S-rank: S5)

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Erigeron annuus:
leaves of stem toothed and mostly 10-35 mm wide and hairs of stem spreading (vs. E. strigosus, with leaves of the stem entire or nearly so and 2.5-10 mm wide and hairs of stem usually ascending).

Synonyms

  • Erigeron annuus ssp. strigosus (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wagenitz
  • Erigeron ramosus (Walt.) B.S.P.
  • Erigeron ramosus (Walt.) B.S.P. var. beyrichii (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Gray
  • Erigeron strigosus var. beyrichii (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Torr. & Gray
  • Erigeron strigosus var. discoideus Robbins ex Gray
  • Erigeron strigosus var. eligulatus Cronq.
  • Stenactis strigosa (Muhl. ex Willd.) DC.

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Erigeron

Notes on subspecies and varieties in New England

Erigeron strigosus var. septentrionalis (Fern. & Wieg.) Fern. is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, VT.Erigeron strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. var. strigosus is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT.

Help

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae

7.  Erigeron strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. N

rough fleabane.  7a. Erigeron strigosus ssp. septentrionalis (Fern. & Wieg.) Wagenitz;  
7b. Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. ssp. strigosus (Muhl. ex Willd.) Wagenitz; E. ramosus (Walt.) 
B.S.P.; E. ramosus (Walt.) B.S.P. var. beyrichii (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Gray; E. strigosus Muhl. ex 
 Willd. var. beyrichii (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Torr. & Gray; E. strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. var. discoideus Robbins ex Gray; E. strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. var. eligulatus Cronq.; Stenactis strigosa (Muhl. 
 ex Willd.) DC. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Fields, roadsides, clearings, and other open places.

1a.  Involucral bracts pubescent with flattened hairs 0.5–1.2 mm long; mid-stem pubescent with appressed to spreading hairs 0.5–1 mm long; basal leaf blades usually dentate 
 … 7a. E. strigosus var. septentrionalis (Fern. & Wieg.) Fern.

1b.  Involucral bracts pubescent with hairs that are not conspicuously flattened and are 0.1–0.5 mm long; mid-stem pubescent with appressed to ascending hairs 0.1–0.4 (–0.8) mm long; basal leaf blades usually entire to subentire … 7b. E. strigosus var. strigosus

Variety septentrionalis is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. It is transitional in some aspects 
(e.g., stem hair length and orientation, leaf blade margin) to Erigeron annuus. Variety strigosus is known from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT.