Practical
Plants

Erigeron acer

a biennial or perennial member of the Erigeron genus in the family Compositae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
biennial, perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Lepidoptera, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Lepidoptera, Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - boiled[1]. A famine food, used only when all else fails[2].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Northern Europe to eastern Asia - China and Japan. Also found in northern America.
Habitat
Grassy slopes on the high mountains of C. and N. Japan.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in situ. The seed usually germinates within four weeks.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[3]. Grows well in dry situations[6]. Succeeds in maritime gardens[4]. There is some doubt over the correct name of this species. E. acris is said to be a synonym of E. acer[3], the report of edibility refers to the sub-species E. acris kamtschaticus[1]. The entry is included under E. acer but this needs further investigation. Very few members of this genus will hybridise with other members of the genus[5].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  5. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  6. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

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