Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_2807.JPG-08-18-2019
Flower name (scientific): Erigeron canadensis Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) er-IJ-er-on ka-na-DEN-sis
Flower name (common): Canadian Horseweed
Family name (common): Aster
Family name (scientific): Asteraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Greek eri for early refers to spring, erion for wool and geron refers to old man. A reference to the fact that some species are early flowering in the spring, and the seed heads have hair like that of an old man. A name used by Theophrastus.
    Specific epithet: Of or referring to Canada
Common name origin: First part probably taken directly from the species epithet. Horseweed is a compounding of horse + weed. Origin is obscure, apparently the term was first used in the 1780-90 period, possibly in reference to Collinsonia canadensis.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm)
     Petal count: ray florets 20 to 40, disc florets 8 to 30+.
     Color: white with a yellow center.
     Other: flower arrangement, Panicle
Plant description:
     Size: 6 to 70 inches (15 to 178 cm)
     Stem hairy: pubescent with spreading hairs
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Leaves up to about 10 cm long and about 1 to 1.5 cm wide.
     Color: medium green
     Hairy: typically hairy, mostly along the margins.
     Other: Shape: leaf, oblanceolate to linear (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to October
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual/Biennial
Habitat: Fields, prairies, weedy meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides, waste ground, roadsides, sun.
Fruit: Achenes light brown, about 1 to 1.5 mm in length.
Seed:
Importance to wildlife: Click for pollinator information on this flower.
Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes.
Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed this plant as a diaphoretic, utilized as a steaming mix in the sweat bath (Smith, p. 213, 1928). The Ojibwe use the smoke from this plant when hunting as a charm (i. e. as an animal attractant) (Smith, p. 429, 1932). The Potawatomi used this plant as a medicine for horses (Smith, p. 47, 1933).
Latitude: 44.795492
Longitude: -91.502155
Altitude: 271.90
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 8 homotypic synonyms for this species.
Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO list 27 heterotypic synonyms for this spcies.
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU