Erigeron philadelphicus (Philadelphia Fleabane) - photos and description

Erigeron philadelphicus
15 cm ruler for scale

Erigeron philadelphicus

Erigeron philadelphicus

Erigeron philadelphicus
Stem leaf in above photo

Erigeron philadelphicus
Basal leaf in above photo

Erigeron philadelphicus

General: Single-stemmed perennial, woolly at base then pubescent, decreasing hairiness at top of stem.

Flowers: Flower heads one to several in an open cluster. Flower colour mauve, flower measured to 25 mm diameter.

Leaves:  Stem leaves alternate, clasping stem, decrease in size up the stem, stem leaf highlighted in photo above was 4.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Basal leaves spatulate with winged petioles. Basal leaf measured at 75 mm wide and 17 mm wide.

Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 60 cm, we measured plants to 60 cm tall.

Habitat: Moist meadows and open woods in the prairies and parklands.

Abundance: Common.

Origin: Native.

Similar species: Similar to Erigeron glabellus, to distinguish between the two:

- the stem leaves of E. philadelphicus clasp the stem, the stem leaves of E. glabellus do not clasp the stem (Taxonomic Reminder for Recognizing Saskatchewan Plants).

- E. philadelphicus leaves all or mostly clasping and auriculate; E. glabellus leaves all or mostly are NOT clasping and auriculate (in the taxonomic key for Erigeron in Budd's Flora).

When and where photographed: Photos taken July 1st, moist roadside meadow, boreal forest, about 450 km northeast of our home in Regina, SK.