Erigeron quercifolius

Erigeron quercifolius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae
Genus:	Erigeron
Species:	E. quercifolius
Binomial name
Erigeron quercifolius Lam.
Natural range of Erigeron quercifolius from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: oakleaf fleabane

Description

A description of Erigeron quercifolius is provided in The Flora of North America.

E. quercifolius can be a winter annual, biennial or short live perennial, depending on environmental conditions. Basal leaves have a deeply notched margin, with yellow-green leaves that are rough to the touch. Flower stalks emerge from the center of the basal rosette and can reach about 12-24 inches tall by early summer. The flower heads are small and are composed of many thin, ray betals surrounding a rounded yellow disc . Flowers can be blue, white or pink.

Ecology

Habitat

In the Coastal Plain in Florida, E. quercifolius can be found in wetland depressions, wet pinelands, dry turkey-oak pinelands, pine flatwoods, and peaty soils of cypress-gum swamps. In human disturbed areas it has been found along roadsides, vacant lots and drainage ditches (FSU Herbarium). Soils include loamy sand and peaty soil (FSU Herbarium). Associated species include Helenium pinnatifidum, Parietaria praetermissa, Micromeria brownei, Spermacoce assurgens, Galium hispidulum, Vicia floridana, Commelina diffusa, Rumex verticillatus, Galium tinctorium, Boehmeria cylindrica, and Saururus cernuus (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

Flowers March through October (FSU Herbarium).

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Erigeron quercifolius at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):

Apidae: Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, Epeolus pusillus

Colletidae: Colletes mandibularis

Halictidae: Halictus poeyi, Lasioglossum tamiamensis

Leucospididae: Leucospis robertsoni, L. slossonae

Megachilidae: Coelioxys germana, Dianthidium floridiense, Dolichostelis louisae, Heriades leavitti, Megachile albitarsis, M. parallela, M. petulans

Sphecidae: Bicyrtes capnoptera

Vespidae: Euodynerus hidalgo, Pachodynerus erynnis

References and notes

Deyrup, M.A. and N.D. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, James R. Birkhaulter, Michael Cartrett, George R. Cooley, R.A. Davidson, Robert Doren, Richard J. Eaton, J.P. Gillespie, William T. Gillis, R.K. Godfrey, Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, R. Kral, O. Lakela, D.W. Mather, Joseph Monachino, John B. Nelson, C.W. O’Brien, Paul L. Redfearn Jr., Grady W. Reinert, Cecil R. Slaughter, Bian Tan, R.F. Throne. States and Counties: Florida: Alachua, Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.