Erigeron philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane, "Harujion")

Japanese name: ハルジオン （春紫苑）
Scientific name: Erigeron philadelphicus

[Overview]
An annual or biennial 30–100 cm tall, found along roadsides, in vacant lots and in fields.
The stem is erect and hollow, densely covered with soft hairs.
There are both basal leaves and stem leaves.
The basal leaves are spatulate to oblong, with coarsely toothed margins, and remain at flowering time.
The basal leaves have petioles whose margins form wings.
The leaves on the stem are simple and alternate; those in the middle are oblong, 5–15 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide, with sparse teeth on the margins.
Both surfaces of the leaves are covered with soft hairs.
The bases of the stem leaves clasp the stem.
The stem branches in the upper part and bears many flower heads about 1.5–2.5 cm across.
The buds droop, and face upward when they open.
There are several hundred ray florets, linear and white to pale reddish purple.
The tubular florets are yellow.
The fruit is an achene with a pappus.

[History]
It arrived in Japan in the Taisho era and has become naturalized in many regions.

[Notes]
It resembles Himejoon, but can be distinguished by its hollow stem, its drooping buds, and the number of its ray florets.

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