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threadleaf fleabane

cutleaf daisy, dwarf mountain fleabane, fernleaf fleabane

Habit Plants perennial, 9–40 cm; taprooted, with branching caudices. Plants perennial, 5–20 cm; taprooted with branching caudices.
Stems

erect, moderately to densely strigose, eglandular.

erect, glabrous to sparsely hirsute and becoming more so distally, usually densely glandular.

Basal leaves

persistent, linear to filiform, 20–80 × 0.5–2 mm;

margins entire;

tips rounded to acute or acuminate;

surfaces moderately to densely strigose.

persistent, spatulate to obovate, 5–60 × 5–20 mm;

margins (1)2–3-ternately lobed or dissected;

surfaces moderately to densely strigose or hispid, usually minutely glandular.

Cauline leaves

gradually reduced distally or not.

5–20 × 1–2 mm, abruptly reduced to linear bracts.

Involucres

4–6 × 7–11 mm.

2–8 × 6–18 mm.

Ray florets

20–40, white to purple;

rays 3–9 × 0.7–1.5 mm.

20–60+, sometimes missing or reduced to tubes, white to pink to purple;

rays 0–8 × 0–1.5 mm.

Disc florets

corollas 2–4 mm.

corollas 3–5 mm.

Phyllaries

in 2–4 series;

surfaces moderately to densely strigose or villous, sometimes nearly glabrous distally, densely minutely glandular.

in 2–3 series, usually with dark purple or green medial area;

surfaces sparsely to densely hirsute, usually minutely glandular.

Fruits

1–3 mm, sparsely strigose;

inner pappi of numerous barbellate bristles.

2–3 mm, densely strigose;

inner pappi of numerous barbellate bristles.

Heads

1–5 in corymb-like arrays, radiate.

1, radiate, sometimes disciform.

2n

=18.

=18, 36, 45, 54.

Erigeron filifolius

Erigeron compositus

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

Rocky areas, sagebrush, juniper and pine forests. Flowering Apr–Aug. 50–2200 m. BR, BW, Col, ECas, Lava, Owy. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to British Columbia, northeast to MT, southeast to UT. Native.

If subspecific taxa were recognized, Oregon specimens would correspond to the typical variety.

Rocky slopes, ridges. Flowering May–Sep. 600–3000 m. BR, BW, Casc, ECas, Owy, Sisk. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to AK, northeast to Greenland, east to SD, southeast to NM; Asia. Native.

Individuals with onceternately lobed leaves have been separated as variety glabratus, but there does not seem to be any geographic pattern to this classification. Polyploids are known within this species and reduction of rays is associated with increases in ploidy.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 256
James Riser, Stephen Meyers
Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 254
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. elegantulus, 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. corymbosus, E. coulteri, E. decumbens, E. disparipilus, E. divergens, E. eatonii, E. elegantulus, 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
Synonyms Erigeron filifolius var. filifolius, Erigeron filifolius var. robustior Erigeron compositus var. compositus, Erigeron compositus var. glabratus
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