Erigeron
/ɪˈrɪdʒərɒn/noun
A genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, commonly called fleabanes.
Did you know?Ancient Greek botanists named erigeron for its white, hairlike seed bristles, which resemble the gray hair of an old man.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐριγέρων (erígerōn)
“A plant name interpreted as referring to wool-like, old-man-colored hairs.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἔριον (érion)
“Wool; the soft, hairlike material associated with the plant’s seed bristles.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γέρων (gérōn)
“Old man or elder; the source of the age-related element in the plant’s name.”
16th Century
Latin
erigeron
“A Latinized botanical name for the fleabane plant.”
1753
New Latin
Erigeron
“Linnaeus established Erigeron as a botanical genus name.”
Modern English
English
erigeron
“A fleabane, especially any plant belonging to the genus Erigeron.”
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