erigeron divergens

Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray

by Amy Rial, Native Plants of Arizona 2009
Common names: Spreading fleabane (1)
Family: Asteraceae
Synonymy: Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray (1).
Etymology: Erigeron comes from Greek eri , "early," and geron,"old man," thus meaning "old man in the spring," referring to the fluffy, white seed heads and the early flowering and fruiting of many species (2). Divergens is simply wide spreading referring to the spreading hairs on the stem.

Identification
Growth form: Erect, herbaceous
Stem: stems 457 mm. tall, hairy with one leafless erect stem (scape) per flower (3).
Leaves: simple, linear, entire.
Inflorescence/flowers: Inflorescence one per stem, of radiate heads containing ray and disc flowers. Ray flowers number, narrow, white or pale pink. Genius has the most ray flowers of all composites (3).
Fruit: 5-3 mm. Generally oblong and cylindrical, sparsely hairy (4).

Ecology
Life history: A biennial or annual herb (2).
Native/introduced: Native (3).
Phenology: Flowers February through October (3).
Distribution : Habitat ; counties , Coconino , Yavapi, Maricopa , Pinal , Navaho , Apache, Pima , Santa Cruz, Cochise , Greenlee, Yuma, Lapaz, Mohave (4). World wide distribution; western North America and parts of Canada (2).
Similar species: E. divergens can be distinguished from other species by its annual habitat and divergent stems.
Uses: Infusion of plant taken by women as an aid for deliverance (5)

Reference
1.USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov , 18 September 2009). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
2.Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium. http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ERIANN . Retrieved September 18, 2009
3.Arizona Wildflowers. http://www.delange.org/Fleabane/Fleabane.htm . Retrieved September 18, 2009.
4. Biodiversity.org 2009. Southwestern Environmental Information Network. http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=1306&cl=1
5. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotony Database ( http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ ). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA.

Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray by Amy Rial, Native Plants of Arizona 2009 Common names: Spreading fleabane (1) Family: Asteraceae Synonymy: Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray (1). Etymology: Erigeron comes from Greek eri , "early," and geron,"old man," thus meaning "old man in the spring," referring to the fluffy, white seed heads and the early flowering and fruiting of many species (2). Divergens is simply wide spreading referring to the spreading hairs on the stem. Identification Growth form: Erect, herbaceous Stem: stems 457 mm. tall, hairy with one leafless erect stem (scape) per flower (3). Leaves: simple, linear, entire. Inflorescence/flowers: Inflorescence one per stem, of radiate heads containing ray and disc flowers. Ray flowers number, narrow, white or pale pink. Genius has the most ray flowers of all composites (3). Fruit: 5-3 mm. Generally oblong and cylindrical, sparsely hairy (4). Ecology Life history: A biennial or annual herb (2). Native/introduced: Native (3). Phenology: Flowers February through October (3). Distribution : Habitat ; counties , Coconino , Yavapi, Maricopa , Pinal , Navaho , Apache, Pima , Santa Cruz, Cochise , Greenlee, Yuma, Lapaz, Mohave (4). World wide distribution; western North America and parts of Canada (2). Similar species: E. divergens can be distinguished from other species by its annual habitat and divergent stems. Uses: Infusion of plant taken by women as an aid for deliverance (5) Reference 1.USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov , 18 September 2009). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. 2.Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium. http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ERIANN . Retrieved September 18, 2009 3.Arizona Wildflowers. http://www.delange.org/Fleabane/Fleabane.htm . Retrieved September 18, 2009. 4. Biodiversity.org 2009. Southwestern Environmental Information Network. http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=1306&cl=1 5. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotony Database ( http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ ). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA.


	© Charles A. Washburn