Plant Name
Scientific Name: Conyza canadensis
Common Names: Canadian Horseweed, Marestail, Mare's Tail, Horseweed Fleabane, Canada Fleabane
Plant Characteristics
Duration: Annual, Biennial
Growth Habit: Herb/Forb
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Desert, Upland, Riparian
Flower Color: Dull white rays and yellow disks
Flowering Season: Summer
Height: To 5 feet (1.5 m) tall
Description: The tiny flower heads are at the branch tips of a highly branched flower stalk. The individual flower heads have yellow disk flowers that are almost hidden among the slender, white rays. The flowers are followed by fuzzy seed heads with a tan to whitish pappus. The leaves are green, hairy, narrow, alternate, mostly linear, and crowded along the main stem. This tall, upright weed resembles a green horse's tail and is unbranched below and highly branched above.
Special Characteristics
Allergenic – Skin contact with the foliage may cause contact dermatitis in susceptible persons.
Edible – The young leaves and seedlings are edible if cooked and can be used as flavorings in other foods.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae – Aster family
Genus: Conyza Less. – horseweed
Species: Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist – Canadian horseweed
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