The Joyful Botanist: Robin’s Plantain
Robin’s Plantain grows in a wide variety of conditions. Adam Bigelow photo
Among the earliest flowering members of the Aster Family (Asteraceae) is the robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellus). Around Cullowhee, the robin’s plantain begins blooming in early April at lower elevations and can be seen blooming at higher elevations into June.
The geography of this region, with varying elevations, slope facing and other microclimatic factors provide for many opportunities to view species in bloom at different times of the spring.
Robin’s plantain is related to many other species of Erigeron which are known collectively as fleabanes. Of the eight species of Erigeron that live in North Carolina, six of them can be found growing in the mountain regions. Annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus), Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) and daisy fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) resemble the robin’s plantain, except that their flower heads are smaller and more numerous. They are also more weedy-looking than the larger and stately robin’s plantain.
The flower heads of robin’s plantain, like other members of the composite group of the Aster family, have two different types of petals on each flower. In the center are the yellow disc flowers. These are the fertile florets that produce pollen and nectar, and later where the seeds will develop after pollination. Surrounding these disc flowers are the ray flowers, which emanate from the center like rays of the sun. These ray florets range from light pink to a darker lavender color, and there can be as many as 50 ray flowers ringing each flower head, which makes for a very showy flower.
I love the genus name, Erigeron. It always sounds like it should be a character in Lord of the Rings. I would venture that Erigeron would have been a ranger like Aragorn. According to NC State University, the name erigeron comes from the combination of two Greek words, “eri” meaning early, and “geron” meaning old man. This creates the seemingly paradoxical phrase early old man, which is a reference to the early spring blooms and the downy hairs on these plants that look like a white beard.
The second part of the botanical Latin name of this beautiful flower is pulchellus. This derives from a Latin word “pulcher” which gives us what I believe is the ugliest word for beauty in the English language, pulchritude. Were I to walk up to someone and pay the compliment of, “You’re looking very pulchritudinous today,” I would probably be smacked — unless the recipient were a student of language, perhaps.
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Robin’s plantain grows in a wide variety of conditions and can be a beautiful addition to a full sun to partly shady native plant garden. It spreads itself easily from both seed and as a groundcover through creeping rhizomes. Robin’s plantain is also very beneficial to wildlife, providing pollen and nectar to pollinating insects with its numerous small fertile flowers.
It also serves a s a host plant for over 20 different species of moths and butterflies, including the beautiful pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos), a lovely orange and black butterfly found throughout most of North America.
As you’re walking along a springtime trail or even driving down the road, you are likely to see robin’s plantain blooming at this time of year. I encourage you to get outside and walk among the wildflowers in springtime. You don’t even have to be a beautiful early old man to do so.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
