Species

Erigeron karvinskianus

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)

Mexican daisy

Authority

Erigeron karvinskianus DC.

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

ERIKAR

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

Habitat

Terrestrial. Intact and disturbed bush, shrubland, tussockland, fernland, herbfield, bare land, streamsides, cliffs and bluffs, inshore and offshore islands, gumlands, consolidated sand dunes, most coastal areas, riverbeds, epiphyte niches.

Features

Sprawling perennial daisy to 40 cm tall. Roots fibrous. Stems long, thin, sparsely hairy to hairless, much-branching, rooting, sprawling, 15-70 cm long. Leaves small, narrow (upper leaves usually 3-lobed), fragrant when crushed. Flowers daisy-like, white, white-purplish or pink, central disc yellow to brownish-yellow, Jan-Dec. Fluffy seeds in profusion.

Similar Taxa

Bellis perennis (daisy) has nearly identical flowers, but wider leaves in a basal rosette.

Flowering

September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May.

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Year Naturalised

1940

Origin

Mexico

Reason For Introduction
Ornamental

Life Cycle Comments
Perennial. Herb

Reproduction
Reproduces by seed and occasionally layering in damp sites.

Seed
Flowers produce masses of fluffy seeds.

Dispersal
Spreads mainly by windblown seeds. Other dispersal methods include roadside mowers, machinery, gravel and water actions.

Tolerances
Tolerates moderate shade to full sun, damp to drought, high to low temperature and almost any surface.

This page last updated on 25 Mar 2010