Prairie Fleabane vs Oakleaf Fleabane
This guide is under construction and has not been published yet. It may have errors. When in doubt, double-check other sources for definitive ID.These species are easily confused where their ranges overlap, as they tend to be similar in height. They can be told apart by differences in flower, leaves, and growth habit.
Prairie Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) | Oakleaf Fleabane (Erigeron quercifolius) |
A common annual or biennial of sunny sites, native to much of North America, particularly abundant in the Great Plains. | An annual, biennial, or short-lived perennial native to sandy sites in Florida and nearby portions of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. |
 Leaf bases do not clasp the stem and do not usually come close to doing so. Photo © Leila Dasher, CC BY 4.0. |  Leaf bases either clasp the stem, or almost do so. Photo © Harry Podschwit, CC BY 4.0. |
 Stems have much less pubescence, and hairs tend to be ascending, pressed closely against the stem, only rarely spreading outward. Stems usually still appear green. Photo © Athena Philips, CC BY 4.0. |  Stems have more pubescence on average, and hairs are more likely to spread outward. Pubescence is often so dense that the plant has a pale or silvery appearance. Photo © Clara Dandridge, CC BY 4.0. |
 Flowerheads have fewer rays (50-100) and are usually white, only occasionally pinkish or bluish. Photo © Sandy Wolkenberg, CC BY 4.0. |  Flowerheads have more rays (100-150) and are frequently pale bluish or a more bluish purple, occasionally pink or white. Photo © Richard Stovall, CC BY 4.0. |
 Rays on flowerheads are consistently longer. (4-6mm) Photo © Cassidy Best, CC BY 4.0. |  Rays on some flowerheads are very short, but may also overlap in length. (2.5-6mm) Photo © Gilles Deacur, CC BY 4.0. |
Plants have more flowerheads per stem, 10-200, sometimes more. | Plants have fewer flowerheads per stem (4-16, rarely as few as 1 or as many as 50.) |
References & External Resources
These short lists show only links helpful for ID. For a complete list of references and resources also covering other aspects of ecology, visit the links section of the full article on each plant, which is the first entry here.
