Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist
horseweed (Canadian fleabane; Canadian horseweed)
Asteraceae (Aster family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Bryan Kelly-McArthur     (Photo ID #85702)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Conyza canadensis
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems erect, usually single, more or less glabrous, 0.2-1.0 m tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves linear to linear-lanceolate or the lowermost oblanceolate, stalked, 2-10 cm long, 2-8 mm wide, glabrous.
Flowers:
Heads with ray and disk flowers, numerous in an open, leafy, branched, usually cylindric inflorescence; involucres 3-4 mm tall; involucral bracts graduated, glabrous to sparsely stiff-hairy, with a conspicuous central glandular area and narrow, more or less papery margins; ray flowers white, numerous, inconspicuous, barely exceeding the pappus; disk flowers few.
Fruits:
Achenes stiff-hairy; pappus of dirty-whitish, slender hairs.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
White
Blooming Period:
Indeterminate
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Conyza canadensis

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
797 370 1300
Slope Gradient (%)
20 0 70

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

176 66 332
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
2 0 7
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
33
Modal BEC Zone Class
IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

BG(4), ESSF(1), ICH(1), IDF(20), PP(2)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry roadsides and disturbed areas in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent in S BC; introduced, native range uncertain.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Conyza canadensis var. glabrata (A. Gray) Cronquist
Erigeron canadensis var. glabratus Gray