Erigeron flagellaris

Erigeron flagellaris A. Gray

by Amy Rial, Native Plants of Arizona 2009
Common names: Trailing fleabane (1).
Family: Asteraceae
Synonymy: Erigeron flagellaris A. Gray var. typicus; Erigeron nudiflorus Buckley(1).
Etymology: Erigeron from Latin meaning early old man. Flagellaris from Latin meaning with long thin shoots whip like stoloniferous habit(2)

Identification
Growth form: Perennial that is basal forming and spreading by runners.
Roots: Tap rooted to somewhat fibrous rooted (3).
Stem: Erect slender stems that may have scattered leaves up to about the middle. Long slender stems [will also] branch along the ground becoming leaf stolons that root (3).
Leaves: Basal leaves that are oblanceolate, up to 5cm. long and 8mm wide. The upper leaves are linear, about 1-3cm long and 1-4mm wide (3).
Inflorescence/flowers: Heads solitary; rays are from 50 to 100 and can be white, sometimes lavender, pink or blue. The disk is yellow and can be from 7 to 13mm (3).
Similar species: Erigeron divergens can be confused with this species. E. flagellaris is a perennial, has stolons that will roo, and typically has one inflorescence per upright stem. (3).

Ecology
Life history: Perennial herb, monoecious (3).
Native/introduced: Native (1).
Distribution: Found in pine forests from elevations of 6500-800 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah (4). In Arizona, E. flagellaris has been documented from: Coconino, Gila, Mojave, Apache, and Pima (5).

Uses: Used by Navajos for spider bites, colds, snake bites, and as an eye wash for livestock (6).

References
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. Glendhill, D. The Names of Plants. Third edition (2002). Cambridgr, United Kingdom.
3. Cronquist, A. Holmgren, A. Holmgren, N.Rereal, J. Holmgren, P. (1994). Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West. Volume 5. The New York Botanical Garden.
4. Navaho Gallup. http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/eis/navgallup/FEIS/vol1/attach-K.pd
5. Biodiversity.org 2009. Southwestern Environmental Information Network. http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=1310&cl=Arizona
6. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotony Database (http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ ). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA

Erigeron flagellaris A. Gray by Amy Rial, Native Plants of Arizona 2009 Common names: Trailing fleabane (1). Family: Asteraceae Synonymy: Erigeron flagellaris A. Gray var. typicus; Erigeron nudiflorus Buckley(1). Etymology: Erigeron from Latin meaning early old man. Flagellaris from Latin meaning with long thin shoots whip like stoloniferous habit(2) Identification Growth form: Perennial that is basal forming and spreading by runners. Roots: Tap rooted to somewhat fibrous rooted (3). Stem: Erect slender stems that may have scattered leaves up to about the middle. Long slender stems [will also] branch along the ground becoming leaf stolons that root (3). Leaves: Basal leaves that are oblanceolate, up to 5cm. long and 8mm wide. The upper leaves are linear, about 1-3cm long and 1-4mm wide (3). Inflorescence/flowers: Heads solitary; rays are from 50 to 100 and can be white, sometimes lavender, pink or blue. The disk is yellow and can be from 7 to 13mm (3). Similar species: Erigeron divergens can be confused with this species. E. flagellaris is a perennial, has stolons that will roo, and typically has one inflorescence per upright stem. (3). Ecology Life history: Perennial herb, monoecious (3). Native/introduced: Native (1). Distribution: Found in pine forests from elevations of 6500-800 feet in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah (4). In Arizona, E. flagellaris has been documented from: Coconino, Gila, Mojave, Apache, and Pima (5). Uses: Used by Navajos for spider bites, colds, snake bites, and as an eye wash for livestock (6). References 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. Glendhill, D. The Names of Plants. Third edition (2002). Cambridgr, United Kingdom. 3. Cronquist, A. Holmgren, A. Holmgren, N.Rereal, J. Holmgren, P. (1994). Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West. Volume 5. The New York Botanical Garden. 4. Navaho Gallup. http://www.usbr.gov/uc/envdocs/eis/navgallup/FEIS/vol1/attach-K.pd 5. Biodiversity.org 2009. Southwestern Environmental Information Network. http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=1310&cl=Arizona 6. Moerman, D. 2003. Native American Ethnobotony Database (http://herb.umd.umich.edu/ ). University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI 48198 USA