Erigeron acer L., Sp. Pl. 863. 1753, 'acre'. Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 255. 1881 (as synonym under E. alpillus).

Herbs, hairy, 15 - 50 cm high. Basal leaves elliptic to obovate, entire or serratte at margin, 2.5 - 9.5 x 0.5 - 1 cm; cauline leaves lanceolate, sessile above. Inflorescence corymbose or panicle. Involucre ca 10 mm in diam. Involucral bracts 2 - 3-seriate, linear-lanceolate, 3 - 6 mm long, glandular or hirsute-pubescent. Florets trimorphic; ligules purplish, not exceeding the tubular florets, 3 - 5 mm long; female florets eligulate, ca 3 mm long; disc florets ca 5 mm long. Achenes oblanceolate, ca 2 mm long, sparsely pubescent.

Notes. A very variable species. Most collections of E. acer are wrongly identified as Erigeron alpillus which is an European species.

KEY TO THE VARIETIES

1a. Plants usually with dense crispale hairs

1.1. acer

b. Plants without dense crispate hairs

2

2a. Sterns usually branched from base; pappus hairs scanty

1.3. multicaulis

b. Sterns usually unbranched below; pappus hairs numerous

1.2. khasiana

List of Lower Taxa