Erigeron annuus Tall Fleabane

An apomictic annual (sometimes biennial) which is native to North America but occurs widely as a neophyte alien throughout Europe. It probably originated in Britain as a garden escape although it is rarely grown in gardens nowadays. The erect, relatively tall (up to 80cm or more) branched stems produce lots of white, daisy-like inflorescences. Leaves are usually entire or irregularly toothed, but not regularly toothed like those of Mexican Fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus) and they don't clasp the stem like those of Robin's-plantain (Erigeron philadelphicus). It is generally uncommon with a scattered and mostly southern distribution in Britain and it has only been recorded once in West Glamorgan, on disturbed ground near a railway in east Swansea.

Neophyte