Erigeron canadensis 小蓬草、加拿大蓬、飛蓬、小飛蓬*

Common name: Canadian Fleabane
Scientific name: Erigeron canadensis 小蓬草、加拿大蓬、飛蓬、小飛蓬*
Genus: Erigeron 飛蓬屬
Family: Asteraceae or Compositae 菊科, aster , daisy, composite or sunflower family

Remarks*: It was formerly named Conza canadensis, belonged to Conza 假蓬屬、白酒草屬. It is also recorded in Hong Kong as an exotic plant.

Origin: Neophyte (established after 1500 AD). I It is a native of North America and has been known in the London area since 1690.

Date: 13th July (flowering) & 15th Aug (frutiing)

3026 A tall, erect, much-branched yellowish-green annual, can reach up to 100cm.

3016 Stem ridged and with hairs. Leaves alternate.

3017 Lower stem also ridged and with hairs.

3016 Enlarged photos to show the ridges and hairs along the stem.

3032 The base of the stem swollen a little bit.

3030 Stem leaves numerous, 3-12cm, linear-lanceolate.

3027 Lower leaf.

3029 The underside of the leaf.

3030 Long forward hairs on the leaf margin. 

3025 Much-branched stem and the inflorescence.

3023 The flower buds.

3023 Side view of the flower buds of different stages.

3015 Side view of flowers

3015 Side view of the flower showing the glabrous involucral bracts. (Actually, it has a few hairs).

3020

3021

3020 There are ray florets and disc florets.

3022 Flower heads 3-5mm across. Ray florets more than 1 row.

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The following photos were taken on 15th Aug:

5012 The flower head swollen at the base now....it may force it to split open to release the fruits afterwards.

5021 Splitting open now, numerous pappus (white hairs) which is the modified calyx could now be seen. 

5020 The fruits, achenes, are ready to be released.

5020-1 Enlarged photo above to see the pappus radiates from the top of each achenes.