Canadian horseweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Canada fleabane
• Canada horseweed
• Cronquist
• Foxtail
• Canadian fleabane
• Canadian horseweed
• butterweed
• hogweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Leptilon canadense
• Erigeron canadensis var. glabratus
• Marsea canadensis
• Conyzella canadensis
• Erigeron canadensis var. pusillus
• Conyza canadensis var. pusilla
• Leptilon pusillum
• Conyza parva
• Erigeron ruderalis
• Inula canadensis
• Conyza canadensis var. glabrata
• Senecio ciliatus
• Erigeron pusillus
• Tessenia canadensis
• Trimorpha canadensis
• Leptilon canadense var. pusillum
• Erigeron setiferus
• Erigeron bonariensis var. angustifolius
• Conyza bonariensis var. angustifolia
• Erigeron canadensis f. coloratus
• Erigeron canadensis var. grandiflorus
• Erigeron canadensis var. strictus
• Erigeron canadensis var. levis
• Erigeron paniculatus
• Caenotus pusillus
• Conyza canadensis
• Conyza rufescens
• Conyza canadensis var. incisa
• Conyza canadensis var. obovoidea
• Conyza canadensis var. robusta
• Conyza canadensis var. simplex

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Erigeron canadensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, it is identified under the genus Erigeron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable presence across various regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, its distribution can be traced to the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It is also commonly found throughout the landscapes of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, the species has established itself within the territories of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to the lush environments of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eriogeron canadensis is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and significant altitudinal variation. It thrives across an extensive elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3250 m AMSL. This species is frequently found in disturbed or human-influenced environments, specifically within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), as well as in open, sun-exposed landscapes such as clean fields (Campo Limpo) and coastal vegetation ecosystems like restinga.

Elevational range max:

3250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo Limpo, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Erigeron canadensis are characterized by a specific chromosomal architecture that plays a crucial role in its evolutionary success and adaptability. The plant possesses a chromosome number of 32, a numerical trait that serves as a fundamental component of its karyotype. This stable diploid number contributes to the species' ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches, facilitating genetic recombination and maintaining genomic integrity across varying environments. The structural organization of these 32 chromosomes provides the necessary genetic blueprint for the complex phenotypic expressions observed in its reproductive and vegetative development.

Chromosome number :

32

Life history

The life history of Erigeron canadensis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which allows it to colonize disturbed habitats rapidly. Its vegetative structure is deciduous, shedding its foliage as it reaches the end of its seasonal cycle. This combination of an annual life cycle and a therophytic life form enables the species to maintain a highly opportunistic growth strategy, ensuring rapid propagation before the onset of adverse environmental conditions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Erigeron canadensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial, independent species exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is strictly self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. As a non-epiphytic plant, it grows directly in soil environments. The plant displays significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 1.00625 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.00625 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erigeron canadensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a reliance on the standard carbon fixation process common to many temperate herbaceous plants. The plant's vegetative structure features an alternate leaf arrangement, with leaves that are non-succulent and non-carnivorous in nature. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit an elliptic form, with dimensions that vary significantly; the leaf length typically averages 8 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while the leaf width averages approximately 0.717 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. This results in a mean leaf size of 6.6 cm². Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 224.05 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

6.6 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.716666666666667 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

224.05 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erigeron canadensis is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically commences in February and concludes in June, featuring red flowers that are serviced by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically through insects such as bees. Self-fertilization is absent in this species, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. The resulting fruit is a dry, indehiscent achene, with a mean length of approximately 0.11 cm (ranging from 0.08 cm to 0.15 cm). Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds. These seeds are notably minute, with a mean mass of 0.0001771 g (ranging from 0 g to 0.00017 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.073 mm³. Dispersal is achieved via an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.111666666666667 cm

Fruit length min:

0.08 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00017 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0001771 g

Seed mass min:

0 g

Seed volume max:

0.073 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erigeron canadensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biologia

Chemicals

Erigeron canadensis has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include apigenin, arabinose, galactose, glucose, luteolin.

apigenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mutation research

arabinose

1. Thrombosis research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

galactose

1. Thrombosis research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

glucose

1. Thrombosis research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

luteolin

1. Mutation research
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

quercetin

1. Mutation research
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

xylose

1. Thrombosis research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

3,5-DIHYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

3,5-DIMETHOXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

3beta-Erythrodiol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Erigeron canadensis has 267 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Erigeron canadensis has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include DNA damage, bronchitis, common cold, coughs, radiation injury.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations