Canadian Horseweed

Conyza canadensis

con-EYE-zah can-ah-DEN-sis

Asteraceae

Native to: Florida native

Florida abundance and distribution: Abundant throughout

Recognition: Potentially to several feet tall, with hispid-hirsute stems and leaves.  Leaves alternate, narrowly elliptic to linear, sessile on mature stems, often twisted, long-pubescent.  Flowers in small white heads in uncrowded racemes/panicles, these in pyramid-shaped clusters at the top of the plant.  When young, the rosette with oblanceolate coarsely serrate-lobed pubescent leaves reminiscent of many other Asteraceae, but the long hairs help with identification.

Other:  May cause dermatitis when handled.

Contributed by:  George Rogers.  Photo taken in February of transition from rosette to more mature foliage, showing characteristic long hairs.