Conyza canadensis

canadian horseweed, horseweed, horseweed fleabane, mares tail, canada horseweed, marestail, lani wela, hogweed, butterweed
Family

Asteraceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate, basal

Leaf Attachment

sessile

Leaf Margin

entire, serrate

Leaf Type

cauline, simple

Leaf Shape

linear, elliptic, oblanceolate

Growth Form

forb

Flower Color

purple, white, yellow

Flower Month

June - November

Height (meters)

0.3 - 2.5

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Armed

Origin

native

Lifespan

annual, biennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

FACU

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

1

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

0

Field Characters

Robust annual with erect, slender, solid branches, found in disturbed sites.Young sterile plants may be distinguished from Solidagos and other look-alikes by the presence of stiff hairs on the leaf margins. Some species of Liatris have hairy margins but their leaves decrease in size gradually up the plant.

Cultural Information

An early succession native that should appear in restoration without planting, and disappear as the restoration matures. The seed germinates easily if planted fresh (Dorph-Peterson 1924). As in many members of the family asteraceae only a small percenta

Natural History

As all members of this genera, E. canadensis grows on a wide range of soil types. It is eaten by livestock only in very early stages and is an increaser under heavy grazing. As perennials become reestablished, E. canadensis will decrease in abundance, m

Habitat

Waste places and old fields.