Fleabane confirmation please

[earthgraham]

I think it's Canadian fleabane but not 100% any help please.

,

[Dorts]

Yes it is Canadian Fleabane - Conyza canadensis.
An introduction now very well established.

There are now three other Conyza's that are to be found, which are very similar. Worth looking out for.
Dorts.

[pleb]

Fleabanes are not easy, but can be recognised with a bit of practice. Your picture shows Guernsey Fleabane, Conyza sumatrensis. You can tell by the hairy phyllaries (the little green bracts which surround the flower heads)

There are two other common fleabanes which have no hairs on the phyllaries. They are Canadian Fleabane, Conyza canadensis and Bilbao's Fleabane, Conyza floribunda (used to be Conyza bilbaoana until it had its name changed).

If you have a lens or good eyesight, you can tell Canadian Fleabane from Bilbao's Fleabane quite easily. On the leaf margin, Canadian Fleabane has straight hairs which are widely spaced apart. Bilbao's Fleabane has stongly curved/hooked hairs set close together.

There is also the rare Argentine Fleabane, Conyza bonariensis, which I have never seen.

Hope that helps. Fleabanes are interesting plants.

Phil

[earthgraham]

Thanks Dorts and pleb,very interesting I shall certainly look out for other Conyza

[aeshna5]

Around London C. canadensis seems to have declined somewhat, whereas C. sumatrensis is now abundant in waste places.

[Johnny81]

I get a lot of Conyza canadensis on my drive way in summer, one almost grew to the size of a small shrub!

[pleb]

In Plymouth, Conyza canadensis is now rather uncommon and nearly all the plants are either C. sumatrensis or C. floribunda (C. bilbaoana).

Out of interest, Bilbao'a Fleabane has nothing to do with the port of Bilbao in Spain. This South American plant has no connection with the Spanish port of Bilbao. Eric Clement tells me it commemorates Francisco Bilbao (1823-1865), a fiery Chilean liberal and radical intellectual who was a thorn in the flesh of the republican governments of South America in the nineteenth centuary. In 1844 Bilbao criticised the government of Chile for their subservience to the Roman Catholic church. He was accused of blasphemy, sedition and immorality and had to leave the country. He was equally scathing on European despotism and imperialism and fiercely attacked the French invasion of Mexico in 1862.

Phil

[pleb]

That is a very good photo of Conyza canadensis, John. It shows clearly the tiny white ray flowers which is characteristic of this species.

Phil

[Johnny81]

Originally Posted by pleb

That is a very good photo of Conyza canadensis, John. It shows clearly the tiny white ray flowers which is characteristic of this species.

Phil

Thanks Phil - although I thought the photograph was a bit washed out, this was pre DSLR days though

Plant seems to crop up everywhere near me!

[Dorts]

I wondered if this may be one of the newer Conyza arrivals.
Thanks Phil for putting us all in the picture with this one, and for the info on the other Conyza species. Very usefull as I have yet to encounter them.
Dorts.