August Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Annual, up to 1 m. high, subsimple or with erect leafy branches; herbage grayish green, +/- densely strigose and hirsute; lvs. many, the lower oblanceolate, to 1 dm. long, entire or serrate, the upper narrower, sessile, entire; lateral clusters of infl. often overtopping central; peduncles generally 1-4 cm.; heads rather many; invol. 4-5 mm. high, the phyllaries densely hirsutulous, often purple tipped; rays 125-180, 3-4 mm.; disk fls. 10-20, 3-4 mm.; pappus whitish or stramineous.

Habitat:  Frequent weed in waste ground; to Atlantic Coast.  Generally below 1000 m. June-Aug.

Name:  Greek, konops, a flea, used by Dioscorides and Pliny for some kind of fleabane. (Hickman Ed. 239).  Bonariensis, possibly the first specimen came from the island of Bonaire in the West Indies.  (John Johnson).

General:  Common in the study area.   Photographs were taken at the North Star Flats and the Santa Ana Heights Bluffs. (my comments).      There are a number of species of Erigeron, all of which are said to possess the same medicinal properties in varying degree.  Medicinally  it is a pungent tonic, astringent and diuretic, claimed to be efficient in diarrhea, gravel, diabetes, scalding urine and hemorrhage of the bowels, uterus and of wounds.  Several writers indicate that the extracted oil is similar to oil of turpentine, but less irritating.  It is recommended for pimples and Parkinson said long ago that "bound to the forehead it is a great help to cure one of the frensie."  (Coon 121).     This annual or biennial species is naturalized from the American tropics and has become a pest in southern California, and in many localities in the northern part of the State.  (Robbins et al. 462).       Conyza species have been known to cause dermatitis.  (Fuller 370).      More than 50 species, chiefly of warmer regions.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 149).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 240; Munz, Calif. Flora 1224; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 149; Robbins et al. 462.

Photo Ref:  July 1 83 # 6,7; Aug 85 # 10.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.  

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 161.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 9/23/02

                                             July Photo