Erigeron hyssopifolius
 
Hyssop-Leaved Fleabane

Single Stem, All Branches Removed

Highway 9 and Overflowing River, North of Hudson Bay
24-June-2014

All the branches have been removed from this stem so as to clearly show how the leaves change in size from bottom to top.  The largest leaves are in the middle.

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Hyssopifolius: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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plants not producing leafy stolons

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plants usually more than 20 cm high; NOT [plants usually less than 20 cm high]

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basal rosette often not present; NOT [basal rosette generally present]

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NOT [basal leaves lobed or toothed, occasionally entire; cauline leaves auriculate-clasping]

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stem leaves numerous; NOT [stem leaves 0-3, leaves mainly basal]

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stem leaves at middle of stem longer than those above and below; NOT [stem leaves gradually reduced upward] (BF)

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leaves not much reduced in size upwards; NOT [leaves often markedly reduced upwards] (FOA)

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leaves 1-3 mm wide; NOT [leaves more than 3 mm wide]

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leaves more or less entire, not dissected, trifid or lobed at the apex; NOT [leaves dissected, or at least some trifid or lobed at the apex]

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leaves linear to oblanceolate; NOT [leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate or spatulate]

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leaves essentially glabrous; NOT [leaves coarsely pubescent, with appressed or spreading white hairs]

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heads usually more than one; NOT [heads solitary]

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peduncles straight; NOT [peduncles arcuate]

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involucre at least 6 mm high; NOT [involucre 4-5 mm high]

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involucre glabrous; NOT [involucre pubescent, generally glandular]

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involucres NOT woolly-villose

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involucre NOT glandular

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NOT [involucre deep purple; densely villous, the hairs with purple septa]

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heads with well-developed ray florets; NOT [heads discoid or with short inconspicuous ray florets] (BF)

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rays absent, inconspicuous or short, not more than 5 mm long; NOT [rays present, longer than 5 mm] (FOA)

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rays not yellow

 

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Erigeron: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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juice watery; NOT [juice milky]

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leaves appearing before the flowers; NOT [leaves appearing after the flowers]

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plants usually with leafy stems; NOT [plants low, stemless, tufted]

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basal leaves NOT cordate or sagittate

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NOT [basal leaves mostly 1-6 cm long, linear to oblanceolate or spatulate, forming a dense rosette; plants with a well-developed taproot; and either densely caespitose, seldom more than 5 cm tall, the heads sessile among the leaves, or with stout, simple stems, 5-15 (25) cm tall, heads solitary, involucres 2-4 cm wide, bracts ciliate to pectinate or fimbriate, rays blue and achenes densely pubescent, obovate to triangular]

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leaves alternate or basal; NOT [leaves opposite]

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leaves not extending beyond flowers; NOT [leaves usually extending beyond the flowers]

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involucral bracts subequal or more or less imbricate, often green in part, but neither definitely leafy nor with chartaceous base and herbaceous green tip; NOT [involucral bracts either subequal and the outer leafy or more commonly evidently imbricate, with chartaceous base and evident green tip, sometimes chartaceous throughout] (FOA)

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bracts in 1 or 2 series; NOT [bracts in several series] (BF)

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flower heads with both tubular florets and ray florets (radiate heads)

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ligulate florets pistillate or neuter; NOT [ligulate flowers perfect]

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ray florets conspicuous

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ray florets 50 or more; NOT [ray florets 10-50] (BF)

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rays white, to pink, purple or blue; NOT [rays yellow or orange]

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stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

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style-branches 0.5 mm long or less, or obsolete; NOT [styles-branches ordinarily more than 0.5 mm long]

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style-branches lanceolate or broader; NOT [style-branches lanceolate or narrower]

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style-branches acute to obtuse; NOT [style-branches acute or acuminate]

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pappus composed of numerous hairs; NOT [pappus absent or composed of a few hairs] (BF)

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pappus of capillary bristles, at least in part; NOT [pappus of 1 or 2 short awns, a mere crown or none] (FOA)