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Home , Aster (genus), Echinacea pallida, Echinacea simulata, Erigeron annuus, Erigeron philadelphicus, Erigeron pulchellus

– FAMILY

Plant: herbs (annual or perennial), some shrubs, rarely vines or trees. Stem: Root: Often with tubers, , stolons, or fleshy roots : mostly simple, some compound, alternate or opposite, rarely whorled. Flowers: flower head supported by an involucre (whorl of green or phyllaries); each head composed of small flowers (composite) of flat ray-like (ligulate) flowers on the outside (ray flowers) and central tube-like flowers (disk flowers) – some species may have only one or the other. Calyx absent or modified into hairs, bristles, scales or a crown (pappus); 5 stamens (syngenesious -united by anthers); 5 united (sympetalous), receptacle may also have hairs or bristles. Both pappus and receptacle hairs/bristles may be used in ID. : achene (small, one-seeded, inferior ovule, 2 carpels, hard shell fruit) often with persisting crowned pappus which helps with seed dispersal. Other: Very large family, divided into sub-families and tribes, once named Compositae; 1-2,000 genera, 20,000+ species. Dicotyledons Group

WARNING – family descriptions are only a layman’s guide and should not be used as definitive ASTERACEAE – ASTER FAMILY

Flat-Topped White Aster [Parasol Whitetop]; umbellata (P. Mill.) Nees var. umbellata Fetid Marigold; Dyssodia papposa (Vent.) A.S. Hitchc. Yellow Coneflower; paradoxa (J.B.S. Norton) Britton var. paradoxa [Eastern] Purple Cone-Flower; Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench [Glade or Pale Purple] Coneflower; R.L. McGregor OR (Nutt.) Nutt. False Daisy [Yerba De Tajo]; Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Eclipta alba) Carolina Elephant’s-Foot; Elephantopus carolinianus Raeusch. Devil's Grandmother; Elephantopus tomentosus L. Florida Tasselflower; Emilia fosbergii Nicolson (Introduced) White Fireweed [American Burnweed; Pilewort]; Erechtites hieraciifolia (L.) Raf. ex DC. var. hieraciifolia Rubber Rabbitbrush; Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird ssp. consimilis (Greene) G.L. Nesom & Baird var. juncea (Greene) G.L. Nesom & Baird [Eastern] Daisy Fleabane [Scabious; Whitetop]; annuus (L.) Pers. Blackhead Fleabane; Erigeron melanocephalus (A. Nelson) A. Nelson Philadelphia Fleabane; Erigeron philadelphicus L. Robin's Plantain; Erigeron pulchellus Michx. Prairie Fleabane [Narrow-Leaved Daisy Fleabane]; Erigeron strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. Tall Boneset; altissimum L. Dog Fennel; Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small (introduced) Purple [Hollow Stemmed] Joe-Pye-Weed [Trumpetweed]; Eupatorium fistulosum Barratt Spotted JoePyeWeed; Eupatorium maculatum L. Var. maculatum Common Boneset [Throughwort]; L. var. perfoliatum Green-Stemmed [Sweet, Sweetscented] Joe-Pye-Weed; Eupatorium purpureum L. var. purpureum Roundleaf Thoroughwort [Boneset]; Eupatorium rotundifolium L. var. ovatum (Bigelow) Torr. Late Boneset [Lateflowering Thoroughwort]; Michx. ASTERACEAE – ASTER FAMILY

Southern Prairie Aster; hemispherica (Alexander) G.L. Nesom Big-Leaved [] Aster; (L.) Cass. (Aster macrophylla) Schreber's Aster; Eurybia schreberi (Nees) Nees (Aster schreberi) [Common] Flat-Top [Lance-Leaved; Grass-Leaved] Goldenrod; graminifolia (L.) Nutt. var. graminifolia Flat-Topped [or Slender-Leaved Goldenrod]; Euthamia gymnospermoides Greene (including E. remota Greene, Slender-Leaved Goldenrod) Flat-Topped White Aster [Parasol Whitetop] USDA Doellingeria umbellata (P. Mill.) Nees var. umbellata Asteraceae (Aster Family) Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Notes: tall ; ray flowers white (7-15), disk flowers yellow, “flat-topped” and dense, flower heads up to one inch; leaves mostly lance- to elliptical-shaped, tapering at both ends, serrate or not, sessile but not clasping; stem and leaves NOT overly pubescent; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Fetid Marigold USDA Dyssodia papposa (Vent.) A.S. Hitchc. Asteraceae (Aster Family) State Hwy 19 (near McCormack lake exit), Oregon County, Notes: bowl to urn-shaped flower, ray flowers 4-8, yellow with resin dots, disk brownish-yellow, 2 rows of unequal greenish bracts; leaves sessile to clasping, 1-2 pinnate, segments linear, opposite to alternate; unpleasant odor; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007] Yellow Coneflower USDA Echinacea paradoxa (J.B.S. Norton) Britton var. paradoxa Asteraceae (Aster Family) Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers yellow, tips shallowly toothed, spreading to usually drooping, disk flowers brownish (tinged with red) with hardened bracts, involucral bracts glabrous except along margins; leaves narrowly lanceolate, long tapered to base (stem); stem with some hairs; late spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2010] [Eastern] Purple Cone-Flower USDA Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench Asteraceae (Aster Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers (10-20) purplish to pink, tips often shallowly toothed, spreading to slightly drooping, disk flowers brownish-purple; leaves ovate to lanceolate, usually toothed, petiolate; stem hairy with stiff short hairs; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004] [Glade or Pale Purple] Coneflower USDA Echinacea simulata R.L. McGregor OR Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. Asteraceae (Aster Family) State Hwy 19 (near McCormack Lake Rec. Area), Oregon County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers pale purplish to pink to almost white, strongly drooping, length varies to 10cm; leaves long lanceolate, entire, usually moderately pubescent; stem moderately hairy; summer [If fresh yellow then E. simulata, if pollen white it is E. pallida] – see following slide. [V Max Brown, 2007] Glade or Pale Purple Coneflower USDA Echinacea simulata R.L. McGregor Asteraceae (Aster Family) Near Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Notes: ray flowers pale purplish to pink to almost white, slightly spreading to strongly drooping, length varies to 10cm, pollen light yellow; leaves long lanceolate, entire, usually moderately pubescent; stem moderately hairy; summer [V Max Brown, 2013] False Daisy [Yerba De Tajo] USDA Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (E. alba) Asteraceae (Aster Family) Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers very numerous in 2-3 series, white, very small, disk white, 2 series of bracts; leaves opposite, sessile to clasping, lanceolate, shallowly toothed; stem short pubescent; plant prostrate to ascending; often in wet or moist areas; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2007] Carolina Elephant’s-Foot USDA Elephantopus carolinianus Raeusch. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: corolla white to bluish, 1-5 flowered head set in a secondary head (wider than long) subtended by leaf-like bracts; leaves alternate, lanceolate ovate to ovate with long winged , hairy beneath, hairy or not above; erect plant; often in sandy soils, roadsides and woods; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2009] Devil's Grandmother USDA Elephantopus tomentosus L. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Near Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: Need to change - corolla white to bluish, 1-5 flowered head set in a secondary head (wider than long) subtended by leaf-like, very hairy (tomentose) bracts; basal leaves alternate, lanceolate ovate to ovate with long winged petiole, hairy beneath, hairy or not above, usually flattened to ground, cauline leaves much smaller and few in number; erect plant; in shady or woody areas; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2014] Florida Tasselflower USDA Emilia fosbergii Nicolson (Introduced) Asteraceae (Aster Family) Cedar Key, Levy county, Florida Notes: small discoid flowers red (to somewhat pink), solitary, urn to bell shaped, green bracts sharp-pointed, corolla exerted 2 to 5 mm from calyx; leaves with clasping bases, mostly oblanceolate and coarsely toothed; upper stem mostly glabrous, lower stem and leaves with some long white hairs; waste (disturbed) areas; fall to spring mostly (all year) [V Max Brown, 2012] White Fireweed [American USDA Burnweed; Pilewort] Erechtites hieraciifolia (L.) Raf. ex DC. var. hieraciifolia Asteraceae (Aster Family) Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: discoid: flowers white, base enlarged; leaves long lanceolate, shallow to deeply toothed, sharp tip, sessile to short petiolate, mostly glabrous above with some hairs beneath, leaves feel thin and pliable; stem usually grooved, pubescent or not; tall plant often found on burned land; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Rubber Rabbitbrush USDA Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird ssp. consimilis (Greene) G.L. Nesom & Baird var. juncea (Greene) G.L. Nesom & Baird Asteraceae (Aster Family) Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Clarke County, Nevada Notes: low shrub; discoid; flower yellow, tubular disk flowers, terminal clusters; leaves mostly linear, flexible, soft hairy, and greenish-gray; stem woody, many branches from base, to 2+ m in height; desert areas; late summer to fall (many puzzling varieties) [V Max Brown, 2014] [Eastern] Daisy Fleabane USDA [Whitetop or Annual Fleabane] Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. Asteraceae (Aster) Family Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers very numerous, white (or pink-tinged), disk flowers yellow; stem leaves numerous and stand out, sessile but not clasping, coarsely toothed, lower leaves narrowed to base (petiole-like); stem hairy; often earliest fleabane; late spring to fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Blackhead Fleabane USDA Erigeron melanocephalus (A. Nelson) A. Nelson Asteraceae (Aster Family) Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Notes: ray flowers very numerous (50-100), white, disk yellow, phyllaries (2-3 series) lanceolate, densely hairy (dark purple); leaves mostly basal (some lanceolate cauline leaves), narrow spatulate to oblanceolate; stem densely hairy; small plant of subalpine to alpine environments; summer [V Max Brown, 2012] Philadelphia Fleabane USDA Erigeron philadelphicus L. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers very numerous (>100), white to pale pinkish, disk yellow, buds often nodding; leaves lanceolate, upper leaves clasping the stem – lower sessile to short petiolate, usually with teeth; stem and leaves with spreading hairs; late spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2005]

Underside Robin's Plantain USDA Erigeron pulchellus Michx. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Shawnee State Forest, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers very numerous (50 to 100+), white to pink to pale blue, disk yellow, solitary to a few flowers, mostly erect; stem leaves – few, sessile, mostly entire, hairy, ovate to somewhat lanceolate, basal leaves - numerous, hairy, shallowly toothed; stem downy hairy; spring to early summer [V Max Brown, 2009] Prairie Fleabane [Narrow- USDA Leaved Daisy Fleabane] Erigeron strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers white (may be pinkish or bluish), disk flowers yellow, few to many flower heads; leaves mostly entire or slightly toothed, narrow lanceolate, tapering to sessile base, not “leafy” at flowering; stem usually with some appressed hairs; plant branches freely; late spring to early fall (probably var. strigosus) [V Max Brown, 2007] Tall Boneset [Throughwort] USDA L. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: discoid; flower white, usually 5 flowers per head, several rows of green bracts; leaves mostly opposite, lanceolate, tapering at both ends, 3-veined, usually with teeth beyond the middle, shorter axillary leaves common; stem solitary, solid, hairy above base; plant tall; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Dog Fennel USDA Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small (introduced) Asteraceae (Aster Family) Near Greers Ferry Lake, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: discoid; flower white to somewhat greenish, usually 3-6 flowers per head, several rows of linear to lanceolate green bracts; leaves mostly opposite, lobed or dissected into long linear segments (almost thread like or filiform); stem solitary, solid, glabrous at base, short hairy above; plant erect, tall, up to 2.5 m; often in disturbed areas; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2014] Purple [Hollow Stemmed] USDA Joe-Pye-Weed [Trumpetweed] Eupatoriadelphus fistulosus (Barratt) King & H.E. Robins. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: discoid; flowers pinkish-purple, 4-7 per head; leaves 4-5(7) whorled, lanceolate to elliptical-lanceolate, large center vein, with teeth; stem purple, often glaucous, hollow between nodes; tall plant (up to 3+ m); summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2004] Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed [Trumpetweed] USDA Eupatorium maculatum L. Var. maculatum Asteraceae (Aster Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: discoid; flowers pink to purplish, 10+ per head; leaves whorled (3)4-5(6), ovate lanceolate, toothed, sharp pointed; stem mostly solid, spotted purple or sometimes nearly solid colored, solid, rarely glaucous; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Common Boneset [Throughwort] USDA Eupatorium perfoliatum L. var. perfoliatum Asteraceae (Aster Family) Maumee River Metroparks, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: discoid; flowers white to grayish, 9-20+ per head; leaves opposite, lanceolate, long pointed, perfoliate, with fine teeth; stem solid, pubescent; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2004] Green-Stemmed [Sweet, Sweetscented] USDA Joe-Pye-Weed Eupatorium purpureum L. var. purpureum Asteraceae (Aster Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: discoid; flowers pinkish-white, 4-8 flowers per head; leaves in whorls of 3-4(5), ovate lanceolate, short petiolate, with sharp teeth, mostly glabrous beneath; stem mostly solid, green with purple at the nodes; vanilla scented; summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2005] Roundleaf Thoroughwort USDA [Boneset] Eupatorium rotundifolium L. var. ovatum (Bigelow) Torr. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Shawnee State Park, Scioto County, Ohio Notes: discoid; flower white, usually 5 flowers per head, phyllaries linear; leaves mostly opposite, with small petiole or subsessile to sessile, ovate to ovate lanceolate, mostly crenate to possibly a little serrate, the two major lateral veins intersect the main vein above the junction of the petiole and leaf blade, reduced upward; stem short hairy above, less so below; often in dry areas of woods and roadsides; late summer to early fall [V Max Brown, 2009] Late Boneset [Lateflowering Thoroughwort] USDA Eupatorium serotinum Michx. Asteraceae (Aster Family) Sam A. Baker State Park, Madison County, Missouri Notes: discoid; flower white, hairy bracts in 3 series; 9-14+ flowers per head; leaves mostly opposite, ovate lanceolate, coarsely toothed, moderate to long petiolate; stem solid, short downy hairy above base; plant much-branching, often tall; often on sand or gravel-bars; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Southern Prairie Aster USDA Eurybia hemispherica (Alexander) G.L. Nesom Asteraceae (Aster Family) Prairie State Park, Barton County, Missouri Notes: ray flowers(15-30+) light blue to purple, central disc flowers usually yellow, bracts in 4- 6 rows and spreading – hairy and somewhat thick, often with dark tip; leaves linear to narrowly lanceolate, sessile, somewhat clasping, margins with fine stiff hairs; stem glabrous to somewhat hairy; uplands; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2011] Big-Leaved [Leaf] Aster USDA Eurybia macrophylla (L.) Cass. (Aster macrophylla) Asteraceae (Aster Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers(9-20) light blue to violet (rarely white), central disc flowers cream to usually yellow (turning purple with age), some phyllaries wider than 1mm, inflorescence more or less flat, dense to loose; leaves large, cordate base, well toothed; woods; very similar to Schreber’s Aster (Aster Schreberi Nees); late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008] Schreber's Aster USDA Eurybia schreberi (Nees) Nees (Aster schreberi) Asteraceae (Aster Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray flowers(9-20), usually white but can be light blue to violet, central disc flowers cream to yellow; inflorescence more or less flat, dense to loose; leaf petiole changes from base to upper part of plant; woods; Summer (ID tentative) [V Max Brown, 2006]

Upper

Middle

Base [Common] Flat-Top [Lance- USDA Leaved; Grass-Leaved] Goldenrod (L.) Nutt. var. graminifolia Asteraceae (Aster Family) Oak Openings Metropark, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray and disk flowers yellow, heads with many flowers, heads sessile, inflorescence somewhat flat-topped but commonly interrupted, bracts often green-tipped; leaves linear (grass-like), 3-veined but 2 more faint veins may be present, stem pubescent; summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2006] Great Plains Flat-Topped [or Slender-Leaved Goldenrod] Euthamia gymnospermoides Greene (including E. remota Greene, Slender-Leaved Goldenrod) Asteraceae (Aster Family) Kitty Todd Nature Preserve, Lucas County, Ohio Notes: ray and disk flowers yellow, inflorescence somewhat flat-topped but commonly interrupted; leaves linear (grass- like), usually less than 0.4 cm wide, 1-veined but 2 more faint veins usually present, leaves tend to glisten with glandular-like dots; stem pubescent; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2008]