Erigeron acer

Blue Fleabane

AsteraceaeLeaves

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(c) Ryan Sealy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves can be eaten boiled. This is considered a famine food, used only when no other options are available.

Where to Find It

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in dry grassy habitats.

Africa, Asia, China, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, North Africa, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Angola, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bhutan, Botswana, Belarus, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, China, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Djibouti, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, United Kingdom, Georgia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Comoros, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sierra Leone, San Marino, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Taiwan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A densely hairy grey green herb. It can grow for one or two years. The stems are erect. The leaves near the base are narrow or oval and may or may not have teeth. They have stalks. The upper leaves are not stalked and are sword shaped. The flower heads are 10-15 mm across. The rays are purple or lilac. The disk is yellow. They are in panicles which are often flat at the top. The rays are in 2 rows scarcely longer than the disk florets.

How to Grow

Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position. Grows well in dry situations. Succeeds in maritime gardens. There is some doubt over the correct name of this species. E. acris is said to be a synonym of E. acer, the report of edibility refers to the sub-species E. acris kamtschaticus. The entry is included under E. acer but this needs further investigation. Very few members of this genus will hybridise with other members of the genus.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in situ. Germination usually occurs within four weeks.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Other Uses

None known.

Wikipedia

Biennial or perennial growing to 0.5 m tall. Hermaphroditic flowers attract butterflies, moths, and bees. Prefers light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH ranges. Requires full sun and cannot tolerate shade. Prefers moist soil and withstands maritime exposure.

Notes

There are about 200 Erigeron species. They are temperate plants.

Names & Synonyms

Guangguangcao

E. acris. E. acris kamtschaticus. (DC.)Herder.

References (3)

Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 433
Kang, Y., et al, 2012, Wild food plants and wild edible fungi in two valleys on the Qinling Mountains (Shaanxi, central China) Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine; 9:26
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/