Species

Erigeron sumatrensis

Etymology

Erigeron: From the Greek eri 'early' (or ear 'spring') and geron 'old', possibly alluding to the hairy seed pappus, or perhaps to the hoary appearance of the leaves of some species in the spring.

Common Name(s)

broad-leaved flea-bane

Authority

Erigeron sumatrensis Retz.

Family

Asteraceae

Brief Description

The plant has a branched hairy flower stalk 30 to 60 cm high, with leaves tapering to both ends (Hilgendorf 1926). The plant has numerous dingy cream heads 0.5 cm in diameter, with red-purple tinge.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

CONSUM

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Synonyms

Conyza albida (Willdenow), Conyza sumatrensis (Retz.) E.H.Walker

Similar Taxa

E. bonariensis is easily distinguished from the other common weedy Erigeron spp. by its narrow leaves, usually twisted and with wavy or undulate margins and by its larger flower heads (capitula). E. bilbaoanus has its bracts around each capitulum (the involucral bracts) much less hairy than those of E. bonariensis and E. sumatrensis, the latter two being distinguished most readily by the twisted vs flat leaves.

Flower Colours

White,Yellow

Year Naturalised

1957

Origin

Subtropical S. America. Also known in New Zealand as Conyza albida Spreng.

This page last updated on 7 Apr 2019