Flower ID: IMG_1685.JPG-08-07-2017 Flower name (scientific): Erigeron strigosus Muhlenberg ex Willdenow PY: 1803. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) er-IJ-er-on strig-OH-sus Flower name (common): Prairie Fleabane Family name (common): Aster (Daisy) 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: Latin for lean, thin. Usually referenced as covered with rigid hairs or bristles. Common name origin: From the common habitat. Fleabane from flea + bane, and based on the belief that the plant was toxic to and repelled fleas. Flower description: Size: 0.5 to 0.8 inches (1.3 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 50 to 100 ray florets. Color: white, less commonly pinkish or bluish, with a yellow center. Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Erect Size: 12 to 36 inches (30 to 91 cm) tall. Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple Size: Basal leaves up to 15 cm long, upper stem leaves up to about 10 cm long and 2 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, (basal) spatulate to broadly or narrowly oblanceolate to linear (FNA), lowest are oblanceolate, middle to upper are elliptic to linear-elliptic (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Prairies, fields, roadsides, sun or part shade, dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Other Erigeron species that are similar include: E. annuus (Annual Fleabane), with 80 to 125 white ray florets and a flower size of 19 mm, E. glabellus (Smooth Fleabane), with 125 to 175 blue to pink to white ray florets and a flower size of 25 to 50 mm, E. philadelphicus (Philadelphia Fleabane), with 150 to 400 pink to white ray florets and a flower size of 12 to 19 mm, E. pulchellus (Robin's Plantain), with 50 to 100 blue to pink to white ray florets and a flower size of 25 to 38 mm, which compare with the 50 to 100 white to pink to blue ray florets and a flower size of 12 to 19 mm for E. strigosus. E. strigosus is less hairy or hairless and has fewer leaves that are more narrow, compared with E. annuus. E. philadelphicus can be distinguished by the main stem leaves that are both wide and clasping at their bases. E. acris (Bitter Fleabane) has only been reported twice in Wisconsin, though it is not listed as present in Wisconsin by the FNA or the USDA. E. tenuis (Slender-leaf Fleabane) has Missouri as its most northern range. Ethnobotany: The Ojibwa used this plant to treat headaches (Smith, p. 364, 1932). Smith uses the old synonym name Erigeron ramosus for this plant. The Catawba used the plant to treat heart issues (Moerman, pp. 219-220, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: 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, 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: (AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Erigeron strigosus var. strigosus (The other infraspecifics are Erigeron strigosus var. septentrionalis (Fernald & Wiegand) Fernald, Erigeron strigosus var. traversii (Shinners) Noyes. Both of these varieties occur in the US.)