Conyza bonariensis (left), seedling Conyza albida (right)

Stem covered with dense stiff hairs

 

Conyza bonariensis leaves

Numerous flowers on much branched infloresence in centre of plant

Fruiting stage in foreground and capitulum  (flower head) shaped like a flower bud in the background

Fruiting stage showing long straw coloured pappus attached to the seeds

Fruiting stage with seed ready for dispersal in foreground

Scientific Name

Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq.

Synonyms

Conyza ambigua DC., Conyza crispa (Pourret) Rupr., Erigeron bonariensis., Erigeron crispus (Pourret)., Erigeron linifolius wild

 

Common Names

fleabane, hairy horseweed, flax-leaf fleabane, wavy leaf fleabane, rough conyza, Argentine fleabane

 

Origin

North America

Family

Asteraceae

Top

Habit

Erect perennial, stem rough branching extensively at the base of the plant with tapered leaves covered in stiff hairs, 20-75 centimetres in height.

Habitat

Widespread weed of cultivated land, garden areas, wasteland and roadsides. Found from spring to autumn, most prevalent in summer months.

General Description

Stems and Leaves:

Erect stems with stiff hairs, branching extensively at the base, decreasing upwards, stems can be 20-75cm in height. Narrow lanceolate leaves are grey to green in colour, measuring 2-6cm in length, coarsely toothed and covered in fine hairs. Upper leaves are smaller and linear.

Flowers and Fruit:

Flowers are numerous on poorly arranged pyramidal panicles (much branched inflorescence). The capitulum (flower head) is greater than 2mm in diameter and looks in fact like a flower bud. Flowers occur at the ends of the branches. Surrounding each flower are involucral (bell-shaped leaf-like) bracts 3-5mm in length, the inside of each bract is white sometimes tinged purple or red. The cypsela (fruit) is a linear shaped seed approximately 1.5mm long, straw coloured, covered in hairs with 16-20 noticeably longer at the top that are white or pink. Flowering is in spring-autumn.

 

Distinguishing characteristics

Tapered rough leaves covered with stiff hairs.  A few bract hairs at apex are longer than the involucre bracts. Branching at base of plant with outside stems taller than the central stem.  The top of the flower stalk (receptacle) is smoothly pitted.

Conyza bonariensis can easily be confused with Conyza canadensis and Conyza albida which are also weeds. C. canadensis can be distinguished from C. bonariensis  in that unlike C. bonariensis  it can grow up to 1.5m high, the involucral bracts (leaf-like structures surrounding the flower head) have a brownish inner surface and the hairs (pappus) of the seed are cream. Conyza albida has bracts of the flower head that are hairy as in C. bonariensis but differ in that there are no long hairs near the apex of the bracts.

 

Sources & References

Carolin R, Tindale MD (1993) 'Flora of the Sydney region.' (Reed: Chatswood, Australia)

Cunningham GM, Mulham PL, Leigh JH (1981) 'Plants of Western New South Wales.' (NSW Government Printing Office: Australia)

Hanks M, Rose L (2001) 'A growers guide to pests, weeds and diseases.' ( Murdoch Books: Sydney, Australia)

Jessop J (1981) 'Flora of Central Australia.' (AH &AW Reed Pty Ltd: Sydney, Australia)

Kleinschmidt HE, Johnson RW (1987) 'Weeds of Queensland.' (QLD Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane, Australia)

Muenscher WC (1955) 'Weeds.' 2nd edn. (The Macmillan Company: New York,USA)

Pacific island ecosystems at risk (2004)  www.hear.org

 

Prepared by Kylie Pethybridge, 2005

Checked by Carole Campbell, 2005

Updated by Justin KY Chu, July 2005

Checked by Dr Peter Michael, July 2005

Top