Appearance
''Erigeron canadensis'' is an annual plant growing to 1.5 m tall, with sparsely hairy stems. The leaves are unstalked, slender, 2–10 centimetres long and up to 1 cm across, with a coarsely toothed margin. They grow in an alternate spiral up the stem and the lower ones wither early. The flowers are produced in dense inflorescences 1 cm in diameter. Each individual flower has a ring of white or pale purple ray florets and a centre of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a cypsela tipped with dirty white down.''Erigeron canadensis'' can easily be confused with ''Conyza sumatrensis'', which may grow to a height of 2 m, and the more hairy ''Erigeron bonariensis'' which does not exceed 1 m . ''Erigeron canadensis'' is distinguished by bracts that have a brownish inner surface and no red dot at the tip, and are free of the hairs found on the bracts of the other species.
Distribution
Horseweed originated in North America and is very widespread there, but has spread to inhabited areas of most of the temperate zone of Asia, Europe, and Australia. It is found in Britain from northern Scotland to Cornwall growing as a weed of arable land. It is not invasive of any natural or semi-natural habitats.Status
Horseweed is commonly considered a weed, and in Ohio it has been declared a noxious weed. It can be found in fields, meadows, and gardens throughout its native range. Horseweed infestations have reduced soybean yields by as much as 83%. It is an especially problematic weed in no-till agriculture, as it is often resistant to glyphosate and other herbicides. Farmers are advised to include 2,4-D or dicamba in a burndown application prior to planting to control horseweed.Habitat
Horseweed originated in North America and is very widespread there, but has spread to inhabited areas of most of the temperate zone of Asia, Europe, and Australia. It is found in Britain from northern Scotland to Cornwall growing as a weed of arable land. It is not invasive of any natural or semi-natural habitats.Uses
The Zuni people insert the crushed flowers of ''E. canadensis'' var. ''canadensis'' into the nostrils to cause sneezing, relieving rhinitis. A tincture can be made from the dried flowering tops of the plants.Horseweed is a preferable material for use in the hand drill method of making friction fire.
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