Strigose Fleabane

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Strigose Fleabane
• Tall Fleabane
• annual fleabane
• daisy fleabane
• eastern daisy fleabane
• sweet-scabious
• whitetop
• Annual fleabaneç

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pulicaria annua
• Stenactis annua
• Diplopappus annuus
• Aster annuus
• Phalacroloma septentrionale
• Stenactis annua subsp. septentrionalis
• Stenactis septentrionalis
• Erigeron strigosus var. septentrionalis
• Erigeron ramosus subsp. septentrionalis
• Phalacroloma annuum
• Erigeron annuus subsp. septentrionalis
• Erigeron ramosus var. septentrionalis
• Phalacroloma annuum subsp. septentrionale

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Erigeron annuus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and the genus Erigeron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range includes the landscapes of Great Britain and Sweden. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is commonly found within the borders of Austria and Belgium. It also maintains a notable distribution throughout the Czechia-Slovakia region. Consequently, these locations highlight the diverse geographical footprint of Eriberon annuus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Erigeron annuus is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, primarily occupying lowland habitats. This species thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, demonstrating a broad ecological tolerance that allows it to establish itself from a minimum elevation of 1000 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests the plant is capable of navigating varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, making it a resilient component of its native ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Erigeron annuus is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental periods primarily through its seeds, which remain dormant until conditions are optimal for growth. The plant exhibits a life form consistent with a hemicryptophyte, positioning its perennating buds at or just below the soil surface to protect them from seasonal fluctuations. Furthermore, its physiological nature is deciduous, as it sheds its foliage as part of its seasonal lifecycle, ensuring that all biological resources are directed toward reproduction before the plant expires at the end of its annual cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Erigeron annuus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, remaining an independent organism. It is a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with a minimum height of 0.3 m, a mean height of approximately 0.694 m, and a maximum height that can reach up to 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.694 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erigeron annuus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic process for most temperate herbaceous plants. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than insectivory. Its leaf morphology is relatively narrow and consistent, with a mean leaf width of 1.4 cm, a value that remains constant across its minimum and maximum measurements. The leaves reach a maximum length of 5.5 cm, contributing to a mean leaf size of 8.59 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 280.65 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological investment in photosynthetic tissue relative to its structural density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

8.59 cm²

Leaf width mean:

1.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

280.65 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erigeron annuus is primarily a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through August. During this stage, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization, although self-fertilization is also present. The resulting fruit is a dry, indehiscent achene with a mean length of 0.1 cm. The seeds produced are quite small, characterized by a consistent length of 0.8 mm and a mean seed mass of 5.2e-05 g (ranging from a minimum of 3e-05 g to a maximum of 7e-05 g). The seed volume is highly uniform, with both minimum and maximum values, as well as the mean, recorded at 0.04 mm³. For the spread of its offspring, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

0.8 mm

Seed mass max:

7e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

5.2e-05 g

Seed mass min:

3e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.04 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erigeron annuus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Erigeron annuus has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, Scutellarin, erigeroflavanone.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Flavonoids

1. Journal of natural products

Scutellarin

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

erigeroflavanone

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Erigeron annuus has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Erigeron annuus extract, ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the flowers.

Erigeron annuus extract

1. Natural product research

Ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the flowers

1. Journal of natural products