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Eaton's daisy, Eaton's fleabane, Eaton's shaggy daisy

Utah daisy, Utah fleabane

Habit Perennials, 4–23(–33) cm; tap-rooted, caudices simple or branched. Perennials, 10–60 cm; taprooted, caudices branched.
Stems

erect to ascending or decumbent, strigose, rarely hirtellous, sometimes minutely glandular.

erect (usually gray-green to whitish, especially proximally), densely and closely strigose, eglandular.

Leaves

basal (persistent) and cauline;

basal blades (3-nerved) linear to oblanceolate, 50–110(–190) × (1–)2–8(–13) mm;

cauline gradually reduced distally, margins entire, faces loosely strigose to sparsely hirsuto-villous, eglandular.

basal (mostly withering by flowering, not forming conspicuous tufts) and cauline (leaf bases broadened or not, not thickened and whitish-indurate);

basal and proximal cauline blades linear-oblanceolate to narrowly spatulate, 15–100 × 1–6 mm, cauline gradually reduced distally, ending well proximal to heads, margins entire, faces densely and closely strigose, eglandular.

Involucres

4.5–8 × 8–14(–17) mm (7–11 × 17–23 mm in var. nevadincola).

5–7 × 7–12(–15) mm.

Ray florets

16–42;

corollas white or pink to bluish or purple, 5–8(–9) mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing.

28–40;

corollas white, pink, or blue, 10–18(–20) mm, laminae coiling.

Disc corollas

2.5–5 mm (–6.8 mm in var. nevadincola).

3–4.6 mm (sparsely strigoso-villous, hairs needlelike).

Phyllaries

in 2–3(–4) series, hirsutulous to villous, sometimes minutely glandular.

in 3–4 series, loosely hirsuto-strigose, often minutely glandular.

Heads

1–4(–7).

1–3(–5), from branches from midstem distally.

Cypselae

1.7–3.5 mm (–4.5 mm in var. nevadincola), 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose;

pappi: outer of setae, inner of 12–30 bristles.

2–2.5 mm, 4(–6)-nerved, faces sparsely strigose;

pappi: outer of inconspicuous setae, inner of 20–35 bristles.

2n

= 18, 36.

Erigeron eatonii

Erigeron utahensis

Phenology Flowering mid Apr–Jun(–Jul).
Habitat Rocky slopes, cliff bases, ledges, and crevices, sandstone outcrops and terraces, sandy soils, gravelly limestone, shale, cottonwood flood plains, creosote bush, blackbrush, blackbrush–Joshua tree, warm desert shrub, salt desert shrub, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, oak-maple-aspen
Elevation 800–2100(–2500) m (2600–6900(–8200) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; NM; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties 6 (6 in the flora).

J. L. Strother and W. J. Ferlatte (1988) provided a detailed study of Erigeron eatonii and its closest relatives (the following key is adapted from their study). Erigeron eatonii is regarded here as comprising a group of varieties with relatively discrete, nearly non-overlapping distributions, intergrading where their ranges are contiguous (for maps, see Strother and Ferlatte). Varieties villosus and lavandulus are exceptions: var. villosus occurs north of all other varieties except var. lavandulus, which occurs completely within the range of var. villosus and might justifiably be treated at specific rank. Variety nevadincola often has been treated at specific rank; its distinctions are quantitative (larger heads, florets, and fruits) and it intergrades with var. sonnei. Erigeron canaani occurs at the southwestern extreme of the range of E. eatonii var. eatonii and may be better treated at varietal rank within E. eatonii; as noted by Strother and Ferlatte, linear-leaves (diagnostic feature of E. canaani) occur in plants of var. eatonii in other parts of its range.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Erigeron utahensis should be expected to occur in southern Nevada.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Involucres 4.5–11 mm; disc corollas (3.5–)4.5–6.8 mm; pappi of 18–30 bristles 3.5–5 mm
→ 2
1. Involucres 4–5(–7) mm; disc corollas 2.5–4(–5) mm; pappi of 12–20(–28) bristles 2.5–4(–5) mm
→ 3
2. Involucres 7–11 × (14–)17–23 mm; ray laminae 7–11 mm; disc corollas 4.4–6.8 mm
var. nevadincola
2. Involucres 4.5–8 × 8–12(–16) mm; ray laminae 4.5–6.6(–8.5) mm; disc corollas 3.5–5 mm
var. sonnei
3. Phyllaries moderately to densely minutely glandular, sparsely to moderately villous
→ 4
3. Phyllaries sometimes sparsely minutely glandular, hirtellous to villous
→ 5
4. Heads 1–2(–7), held well beyond basal leaves
var. eatonii
4. Heads (1–)2–4(–6), held slightly if at all beyond basal leaves
var. lavandulus
5. Heads 1–4; phyllaries sparsely to moderately hirtellous (hairs mostly 0.3–0.8 mm)
var. plantagineus
5. Heads 1(–2); phyllaries moderately to densely villous (hairs mostly 1–2 mm)
var. villosus
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 279. FNA vol. 20, p. 296.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Erigeron Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Erigeron
Sibling taxa
E. abajoensis, E. acomanus, E. acris, E. aequifolius, E. algidus, E. aliceae, E. allocotus, E. alpiniformis, E. anchana, E. annuus, E. aphanactis, E. arenarioides, E. argentatus, E. arisolius, E. arizonicus, E. asperugineus, E. aureus, E. barbellulatus, E. basalticus, E. bellidiastrum, E. bigelovii, E. biolettii, E. blochmaniae, E. bloomeri, E. breweri, E. caespitosus, E. calvus, E. canaani, E. canus, E. cascadensis, E. cavernensis, E. cervinus, E. chrysopsidis, E. clokeyi, E. compactus, E. compositus, E. concinnus, E. consimilis, E. corymbosus, E. coulteri, E. cronquistii, E. davisii, E. decumbens, E. denalii, E. disparipilus, E. divergens, E. elatior, E. elatus, E. elegantulus, E. elmeri, E. engelmannii, E. evermannii, E. eximius, E. filifolius, E. flabellifolius, E. flagellaris, E. flettii, E. foliosus, E. formosissimus, E. garrettii, E. geiseri, E. glabellus, E. glacialis, E. glaucus, E. goodrichii, E. gracilis, E. grandiflorus, E. greenei, E. heliographis, E. hessii, E. howellii, E. humilis, E. hyperboreus, E. hyssopifolius, E. inornatus, E. jonesii, E. kachinensis, E. karvinskianus, E. klamathensis, E. kuschei, E. lackschewitzii, E. lanatus, E. lassenianus, E. latus, E. leibergii, E. leiomerus, E. lemmonii, E. linearis, E. lobatus, E. lonchophyllus, E. maguirei, E. mancus, E. maniopotamicus, E. mariposanus, E. melanocephalus, E. miser, E. modestus, E. muirii, E. multiceps, E. nanus, E. nauseosus, E. nematophyllus, E. neomexicanus, E. nivalis, E. ochroleucus, E. oreganus, E. oreophilus, E. ovinus, E. oxyphyllus, E. pallens, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. peregrinus, E. petrophilus, E. philadelphicus, E. pinnatisectus, E. piperianus, E. piscaticus, E. poliospermus, E. porsildii, E. pringlei, E. procumbens, E. pulchellus, E. pulcherrimus, E. pumilus, E. purpuratus, E. pygmaeus, E. quercifolius, E. radicatus, E. reductus, E. religiosus, E. rhizomatus, E. robustior, E. rybius, E. rydbergii, E. salishii, E. salmonensis, E. sanctarum, E. saxatilis, E. sceptrifer, E. scopulinus, E. serpentinus, E. sionis, E. sivinskii, E. sparsifolius, E. speciosus, E. strigosus, E. subglaber, E. subtrinervis, E. supplex, E. tenellus, E. tener, E. tenuis, E. tracyi, E. trifidus, E. tweedyi, E. uintahensis, E. uncialis, E. uniflorus, E. untermannii, E. ursinus, E. utahensis, E. vagus, E. velutipes, E. vernus, E. versicolor, E. vetensis, E. vicinus, E. vreelandii, E. watsonii, E. wilkenii, E. yukonensis
E. abajoensis, E. acomanus, E. acris, E. aequifolius, E. algidus, E. aliceae, E. allocotus, E. alpiniformis, E. anchana, E. annuus, E. aphanactis, E. arenarioides, E. argentatus, E. arisolius, E. arizonicus, E. asperugineus, E. aureus, E. barbellulatus, E. basalticus, E. bellidiastrum, E. bigelovii, E. biolettii, E. blochmaniae, E. bloomeri, E. breweri, E. caespitosus, E. calvus, E. canaani, E. canus, E. cascadensis, E. cavernensis, E. cervinus, E. chrysopsidis, E. clokeyi, E. compactus, E. compositus, E. concinnus, E. consimilis, E. corymbosus, E. coulteri, E. cronquistii, E. davisii, E. decumbens, E. denalii, E. disparipilus, E. divergens, E. eatonii, E. elatior, E. elatus, E. elegantulus, E. elmeri, E. engelmannii, E. evermannii, E. eximius, E. filifolius, E. flabellifolius, E. flagellaris, E. flettii, E. foliosus, E. formosissimus, E. garrettii, E. geiseri, E. glabellus, E. glacialis, E. glaucus, E. goodrichii, E. gracilis, E. grandiflorus, E. greenei, E. heliographis, E. hessii, E. howellii, E. humilis, E. hyperboreus, E. hyssopifolius, E. inornatus, E. jonesii, E. kachinensis, E. karvinskianus, E. klamathensis, E. kuschei, E. lackschewitzii, E. lanatus, E. lassenianus, E. latus, E. leibergii, E. leiomerus, E. lemmonii, E. linearis, E. lobatus, E. lonchophyllus, E. maguirei, E. mancus, E. maniopotamicus, E. mariposanus, E. melanocephalus, E. miser, E. modestus, E. muirii, E. multiceps, E. nanus, E. nauseosus, E. nematophyllus, E. neomexicanus, E. nivalis, E. ochroleucus, E. oreganus, E. oreophilus, E. ovinus, E. oxyphyllus, E. pallens, E. parishii, E. parryi, E. peregrinus, E. petrophilus, E. philadelphicus, E. pinnatisectus, E. piperianus, E. piscaticus, E. poliospermus, E. porsildii, E. pringlei, E. procumbens, E. pulchellus, E. pulcherrimus, E. pumilus, E. purpuratus, E. pygmaeus, E. quercifolius, E. radicatus, E. reductus, E. religiosus, E. rhizomatus, E. robustior, E. rybius, E. rydbergii, E. salishii, E. salmonensis, E. sanctarum, E. saxatilis, E. sceptrifer, E. scopulinus, E. serpentinus, E. sionis, E. sivinskii, E. sparsifolius, E. speciosus, E. strigosus, E. subglaber, E. subtrinervis, E. supplex, E. tenellus, E. tener, E. tenuis, E. tracyi, E. trifidus, E. tweedyi, E. uintahensis, E. uncialis, E. uniflorus, E. untermannii, E. ursinus, E. vagus, E. velutipes, E. vernus, E. versicolor, E. vetensis, E. vicinus, E. vreelandii, E. watsonii, E. wilkenii, E. yukonensis
Subordinate taxa
E. eatonii var. eatonii, E. eatonii var. lavandulus, E. eatonii var. nevadincola, E. eatonii var. plantagineus, E. eatonii var. sonnei, E. eatonii var. villosus
Synonyms E. stenophyllus, E. utahensis var. tetrapleuris
Name authority A. Gray: Notes Compositae, 91. (1880) A. Gray: Notes Compositae, 89. (1880)
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