Ηριγέρων του Μπουένος Άιρες
Etymology of Erigeron bonariensis: "Erigeron" derives from Ancient Greek "ἠριγέρων" [irigéron], which means "prematurely old", from "ἦρι", meaning "morning, early in the morning" and "γέρων", meaning "old man". This is either a reference to the fluffy, white seed heads and the early flowering and fruiting of many Erigeron species. The epithet "bonariensis" means "from Buenos Aires", Argentina.
There are three Erigeron species in Cyprus, all non-indigenous and two of them in fact, invasive.
Erigeron bonariensis a non-indigenous, invasive plant, that grows all around Cyprus except for the Central Mesaoria region (Nicosia and surrounding areas). It is a quite popular plant. Its flowering period is non-stop, all year long.
How to identify Erigeron bonariensis:
Erigeron bonariensis bears much fewer flowers than the ones of sumatrensis and canadensis. For instance, bonariensis may have usually around 15-30 on a plant, sumatrensis definitely more than that, and canadensis could bear more than 100.
Erigeron bonariensis grows up to 75 cm in height and its leaves are covered with stiff hairs. It is usually seen growing at around 30-40 cm tall. Erigeron canadensis grows up to 1.5 m tall, with sparsely hairy stems, but it is usually seen grown less, but more than 40 cm tall.
Erigeron bonariensis 's capitula is 7-11 mm wide at fruiting, whilst of sumatrensis 5-8 mm wide at fruiting and canadensis is 3-5 mm wide at fruiting.
Erigeron bonariensis 's phyllaries are more or less hairy, whilst canadensis's are glabrous or nearly so.
The bonariensis has more or less spherical flowers when they are still unopened and are about to bloom, whilst the canadensis has oblong ones.
Erigeron sumatrensis's inflorescence is pyramidal, bonariensis's is not.
