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Mexican fleabane facts for kids

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Mexican fleabane
Erigeron karvinskianus - blossom top (aka).jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Erigeron
Species:
karvinskianus
Synonyms
Synonymy
Aster erigeroides (DC.) Harv. 1865 not Hook. & Arn. 1836
Erigeron mucronatus DC.
Erigeron trilobus Sond.
Felicia erigeroides DC.
Felicia natalensis Sch.Bip. ex Walp.
Felicia trinervia Turcz.
Erigeron karvinskianum DC.

Erigeron karvinskianus, the Mexican fleabane, is a species of daisy-like flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to Mexico and parts of Central America.

Other common names include Latin American fleabane, Santa Barbara daisy, Spanish daisy, Karwinsky's fleabane, or bony-tip fleabane.

Description

It is a vigorous, spreading perennial plant growing from woody rhizomes to a maximum height of 15 cm (5.9 in). Its leaves are located along the stem, the basal leaves dying off as the plant bolts. They are sometimes slightly toothed or lobed near the tips. The inflorescences hold one or more flower heads which are each about 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide. They have golden yellow disc florets in the center surrounded by a fringe of up to 80 white to pinkish ray florets.

Flowering

In the UK, it flowers from May to October.

Distribution

Erigeron karvinskianus is native to much of Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela. and is naturalized in many other places, including parts of Africa and Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Chile and the west coast of the United States.

Taxonomy

The plant was first described in 1836 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. The specific epithet refers to Wilhelm Friedrich Karwinski von Karwin, who collected the plant in Mexico according to de Candolle.

Cultivation

Erigeron karvinskianus is also cultivated for its daisy-like blooms, and is often confused with the closely related true daisy Bellis perennis. It is frequently grown in crevices in walls or paving, where it rapidly spreads to provide a carpet of flowers. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It was used to colonise the concrete terraces of the football stadium (Estadio Azteca) built in Mexico City for the 1970 World Cup.

Gallery

  • Erigeron karvinskianus RF

    Habit

  • Asteraceae - Erigeron karvinskianus

    Flowers

  • Asteraceae - Erigeron karvinskianus-1

    Flower

  • Asteraceae - Erigeron karvinskianus-2

    Leaves

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Erigeron karvinskianus para niños

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Mexican fleabane Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.