Erigeron hyssopifolius
 
Hyssop-Leaved Fleabane

Flower Head Side

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

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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)