Angiosperms: Dicotyledons

Asteraceae
Daisy Family

• Stem: annual; 2’ to 3 1/2’; not branching; slightly hairy.
• Leaves: alternate; strap-shaped, tapering to sessile bases, round-pointed tips; 1 1/2” by 1/4”; hairy above and below; often slightly toothed.
• Inflorescence: branching, from stem tip and upper leaf axils.
• Heads: many white rays, narrow; head 3/8” across; disk flowers yellow; resembles the white asters except twice as many rays and earlier flowering; flowering from early June to mid-July.
• Fruits: “seeds” (fruits) 1/16” long with plumes 1/8” long; fruiting begins in mid-June.
• Habitat: on upland to dry and sandy prairies; especially in disturbed sites.
• Notes: Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., annual fleabane, closely resembles E. strigosus except it has larger leaves (3” by 1”) with prominent teeth and more ray flowers. It is more weedy and is often a pioneer in recently cultivated ground or other disturbed sites.
• Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Vascular Plants of Iowa