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dwarf blue fleabane, volcanic fleabane

Erigeron howellii

Howell's fleabane

Habit Plants perennial, 4–10 cm; taprooted, with branching caudices. Plants perennial, 20–45 cm; fibrous-rooted, rhizomatous, caudices branching or not.
Stems

erect to basally ascending, sparsely to moderately strigose, eglandular.

erect, glabrous to sparsely and minutely strigillose, eglandular.

Basal leaves

persistent, linear to filiform, 20–50 × 0.5–1 mm, white, bases sheathing;

margins entire;

tips round to acute or acuminate;

surfaces sparsely to moderately strigose.

persistent, broadly spatulate, 40–150 × 10–35 mm;

margins entire or with few large teeth;

surfaces glabrous, eglandular.

Cauline leaves

abruptly reduced and usually restricted to basal ? of stem, bases sheathing.

lanceolate to elliptic, 15–80 × 10–35 mm, gradually reduced distally;

margins entire or with few coarse teeth;

surfaces often ciliate or glandular.

Involucres

3–5 × 8–11 mm.

5–9 × 15–23 mm.

Ray florets

15–30, lavender to purple;

rays 3–8 × 0.7–1.3 mm.

25–50, white;

rays 8–20 × 2.5–4 mm.

Disc florets

corollas 2.5–3.5 mm.

corollas 4–5 mm.

Phyllaries

in 3–4 unequal series;

surfaces sparsely strigose, eglandular.

in 2–3 series, with prominent central veins;

surfaces glabrous, densely glandular.

Fruits

1–2 mm, nearly glabrous to sparsely strigose;

inner pappi of numerous barbellate bristles.

2.5–3 mm, sparsely to moderately strigose;

inner pappi of numerous barbellate bristles.

Heads

1, radiate.

1, radiate.

2n

=27.

Erigeron elegantulus

Erigeron howellii

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Rocky areas, sagebrush, coniferous forests. Flowering Jun–Aug. 700–2500 m. BR, BW, Casc, Owy. CA. Native.

Rocky slopes, open woods. Flowering May–Jul. 100–1500 m. Casc. WA. Native.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 256
James Riser, Stephen Meyers
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 258
James Riser, Stephen Meyers
Sibling taxa
E. acris, E. aliceae, E. annuus, E. aphanactis, E. aureus, E. bloomeri, E. cascadensis, E. cervinus, E. chrysopsidis, E. compositus, E. corymbosus, E. coulteri, E. decumbens, E. disparipilus, E. divergens, E. eatonii, E. filifolius, E. foliosus, E. glacialis, E. glaucus, E. howellii, E. inornatus, E. karvinskianus, E. klamathensis, E. latus, E. linearis, E. lonchophyllus, E. nivalis, E. oreganus, E. peregrinus, E. petrophilus, E. philadelphicus, E. poliospermus, E. pumilus, E. simplex, E. speciosus, E. stanselliae, E. strigosus, E. tener, E. vagus
E. acris, E. aliceae, E. annuus, E. aphanactis, E. aureus, E. bloomeri, E. cascadensis, E. cervinus, E. chrysopsidis, E. compositus, E. corymbosus, E. coulteri, E. decumbens, E. disparipilus, E. divergens, E. eatonii, E. elegantulus, E. filifolius, E. foliosus, E. glacialis, E. glaucus, E. inornatus, E. karvinskianus, E. klamathensis, E. latus, E. linearis, E. lonchophyllus, E. nivalis, E. oreganus, E. peregrinus, E. petrophilus, E. philadelphicus, E. poliospermus, E. pumilus, E. simplex, E. speciosus, E. stanselliae, E. strigosus, E. tener, E. vagus
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