Erigeron aphanactis
Fl. Francisc., 389. 1897.
Perennials, 2–20 (–30) cm; taprooted, caudices branched. Stems erect to slightly decumbent-ascending, canescent-hirsute, densely stipitate-glandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline (petioles prominently ciliate, at least on proximal portions, hairs thick-based, spreading); basal blades linear-oblanceolate to spatulate, 20–80 × 2–7 mm, cauline gradually or abruptly reduced distally, sometimes bractlike (stems scapiform), margins entire, faces canescent-hirsute, densely stipitate-glandular (hairs finer). Heads (disciform) 1–4. Involucres 4–6 × 7–15 mm. Phyllaries in 2–3 series, coarsely hirsute, densely minutely glandular. Ray (pistillate) florets 30–45; corollas usually tubular, lacking laminae, or laminae shorter than involucres. Disc corollas 2.8–4.5 mm (throats white-indurate and inflated, conspicuously puberulent). Cypselae 1.5–1.8 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose (carpopodia whitish); pappi: outer of scales or setae, inner of 7–20 bristles.
Distribution
Ariz., Calif., Colo., N.Mex., Nev., Oreg., Utah
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Erigeron aphanactis is distinguished from E. austiniae by its conspicuously puberulent (versus essentially glabrous) disc corollas and white (versus yellow) carpopodia; it also is similiar in habit and vestiture to E. concinnus, which has conspicuous white to pinkish rays.
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Stems leafy; heads usually 2–3; disc corolla lobes usually yellowish | Erigeron aphanactis var. aphanactis |
| 1 | Stems scapiform; heads 1; disc corolla lobes sometimes becoming reddish or purplish | Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus |