Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Hairy Fleabane - Erigeron bonariensis   L.
Members of Asteraceae:
Members of Erigeron with account distribution info or public map:
Google Images
Section 6 » Family Asteraceae
AuthorL.
DistributionScattered locations in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, with large gaps. A curiously localized plant that may produce large populations, but which seems to be a poor disperser. First collected in 1949 in Carteret and New Hanover counties.

Native of South America ("bonariensis" means of Buenos Aires, Argentina); in N.A. in the southern U.S. from VA to FL, TX, CA; also UT, OR, WA.
AbundanceRare on the landscape, but individuals can number in the hundreds.
HabitatPastures, barnyards, fallow fields, vacant lots, sidewalk, creek bank, pine savanna. The Scotland County specimen came from Tunstall's Bay.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting April-October.
IdentificationThis fleabane grows 1-3 feet tall and is rather densely spreading-pubescent throughout. The lower leaves are lance-shaped, becoming linear up the stem. Of our other species of Erigeron, it most resembles Common Horseweed (E. canadensis) in its very short (less than 1 mm) or absent ray lamina (petal-like structures on the outer florets). It differs in its taller involucre and far more florets per head than C. canadensis -- thus appearing to have larger heads but fewer in number than that abundant native weed. In the field it also may appear gray-green in color.
Taxonomic CommentsA synonym is Conyza bonariensis.

Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE
Global RankG5
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcpFACU link
USACE-empFACU link
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Photo Gallery
photographercommentsphoto_linkcountyobsType
B.A. SorrieTunstall's Bay, now without water, numerous, August 2022. ScotlandPhoto_non_natural
Select a source
AllHerbaria
Individual
Select an occurrence type
AllCollection_non_naturalPhoto_non_natural