146 



FARM WEEDS OF CANADA 



COMMON FLEABANE (Erigeron canadensis L.) 



Other English names: Horseweed, Fireweed, Butterweed, 

 Prideweed, Blood-staunch, Coris, Colt's- or Mare's-tail, Bitter- 

 weed. 



Other Latin name: Leptilon Canadense (L.) Britton. 



Native. Annual. Sometimes very tall and much branched, 

 with wand-like stems; generally bristly hairy. Leaves without 

 teeth or divisions, linear, the basal ones dentate. The numerous, 

 small, white flower heads form a panicle. 



The seed closely resembles those of the goldenrods and is 

 practically indistinguishable from them and from some varieties 

 of asters. It is yellowish, flattened, 2-nerved, often slightly 

 curved. 



Time of flowering: July to October; seeds ripe August to 

 October. 



Propagation: By seeds carried with the wind. Seed-pro- 

 ducing plants are of all sizes, up to 6 or 7 feet high. An 

 average plant produces about 120,000 seeds. 



Occurrence: General in fields and waste places. A native 

 of North America, except the extreme north. Spread from 

 America to Europe and common in South America. It is most 

 abundant in moist grounds and pastures, but is found in meadow 

 land and even cultivated fields. 



Injury: Its seeds are found in poorly cleaned grass seed. An 

 objectionable weed in meadows. 



Remedy: Any method of cultivation which prevents it 

 going to seed is effective. A short rotation with clover and a 

 hoe crop or a bare fallow will easily kill it. Waste places should 

 be watched and the weeds cut before they develop seed. 



ALLIED SPECIES: Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus (L.) 

 Pers.) has coarsely-toothed leaves. 



