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Erigeron pulchellus - (image 1 of 4)

Taxonomy

Family: Asteraceae

Habitat

Meadows, lawns, clearings.

Associates

Distribution

Me to Ontario and east-central MN, south to GA, MS, and eastern TX.

Morphology

Herbaceous perennial from a short fibrous-rooted caudex, perennating by slender rhizomes; stems 15-60 cm, spreading hairy (var. pulchellus); basal leaves oblanceolate to suborbicular, often toothed; cauline leaves ovate to lanceolate or oblong, reduced upwards; heads 1-5 per stem; involucres 5-7 mm; disk 10-20 mm diameter; rays 50-100, 6-10 mm, about 1+ mm wide, blue to pink or white; disk corollas 4-6 mm; pappus simple.

Notes

Flowers May to June

Wetland indicator: FACU

One of the more attractive members of this genus and blooming a little earlier than similar species, i.e. in spring which may be why it is called robin's plantain. Like E. philadelphicus it has cauline leaves that clasp the stem but has fewer and larger heads with fewer rays (50-100 vs. 150-400) that are wider (mostly 1+ mm vs. less than 1 mm).

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

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