Erigeron radicatus |
Erigeron multiceps |
|
---|---|---|
Hooker's fleabane, Huber's fleabane, tap-root fleabane |
Kern River daisy, Kern River fleabane |
|
Habit | Perennials, (1–)2–6(–12) cm; taprooted, caudices branches relatively short, thick. | Perennials, short-lived, 12–20 cm; taprooted, caudices simple or branched. |
Stems | erect, strigose to sparsely or densely short-villous (hairs loosely appressed to ascending or spreading), eglandular. |
(single or multiple from bases) decumbent-ascending (branched from midstems), strigose (hairs fine, ascending-appressed), eglandular. |
Leaves | mostly basal (persistent) (eciliate or weakly ciliate proximally); blades 1-nerved linear to narrowly oblanceolate or subspatulate, (5–)10–50(–60) × 0.8–2.5 mm (bases gradually narrowing), margins entire (apices obtuse to rounded), abaxial faces glabrate or glabrous, shiny, adaxial sparsely, loosely strigose, eglandular; cauline mostly on proximal 1/2–1/3 of stems (absent in some high elevation forms), abruptly or gradually reduced distally. |
mostly basal (persistent); blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 10–30 × 2–6 mm, cauline reduced distally, linear, margins entire, strigose, eglandular. |
Involucres | (3–)4–6(–8) × (5–)8–12(–15) mm. |
3.5–4 × 6–7 mm. |
Ray florets | (12–)20–44(–85); corollas white, less commonly purplish, 4–7(–8) mm, laminae coiling. |
75–125; corollas white to purplish 5–8 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. |
Disc corollas | (2–)2.5–3.5(–4) mm. |
1.8–2.2 mm (throats white-indurate and somewhat inflated). |
Phyllaries | in 2–3(–4) series (subequal), villosulous to villoso-hirsutulous (hairs usually with purplish cross walls at least in basal cells), minutely glandular apically or eglandular. |
in 3–4 series, sparsely hispid, minutely glandular. |
Heads | 1. |
1(–3 on proximal branches). |
Cypselae | 2.1–2.5 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of scales, inner of (6–)7–11 (readily falling) bristles. |
0.7–0.9 mm, 2-nerved, sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 5–8 bristles. |
Erigeron radicatus |
Erigeron multiceps |
|
Phenology | Flowering May–Aug. | Flowering Jun–Aug. |
Habitat | Rocky slopes, ridges, and summits, ledges and crevices, outcrops and talus, usually limestone, alpine tundra | Dry, open meadows and meadow edges near mixed conifer and aspen stands, sometimes in disturbed sites such as logging roads, sandy creek banks, annual drainages, and washes |
Elevation | (1400–)1600–2800(–3400) m ((4600–)5200–9200(–11200) ft) | 1500–2500 m (4900–8200 ft) |
Distribution |
CO; ID; MT; ND; NE; SD; UT; WY; AB; SK
|
CA; NV; Mexico (Baja California) |
Discussion | Collections of Erigeron radicatus often have been identified as E. ochroleucus var. scribneri; E. radicatus is distinctive in its branched caudex, villous cauline vestiture, more reduced leaf vestiture, involucral vestiture of hairs with purple cross walls, shorter disc corollas, and relatively few, readily falling pappus bristles. Erigeron radicatus often is essentially scapiform at relatively high elevation (2700–3400 m) in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming; more eastern populations in the Great Plains, at lower elevations (1400–2600 m), have leafier stems but are hardly different in other features. Plants of some populations in Albany and Carbon counties, Wyoming, produce atypically shorter rays. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Of conservation concern. Although Erigeron multiceps has been considered to be indistinct or doubtfully distinct from E. divergens (see G. L. Nesom 1993f), California botanists with field experience note that the two taxa can be distinguished when occuring in close proximity. Plants of the type collection and some others have thick taproots and thickened caudex branches, unlike closely related species. Plants from Clark County, Nevada (Red Rock Canyon Recreation Area, Leary 4031, UNLV) have taproots with simple caudices, decumbent-ascending, strigose stems, and persistent basal leaves; they are technically, at least, identified as E. multiceps. The disjunct Mexican plants are closely similar to those in California. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 20, p. 294. | FNA vol. 20, p. 342. |
Parent taxa | Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Erigeron | Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Erigeron |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | E. huberi, E. macounii | |
Name authority | Hooker: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 17, plate 122. (1834) | Greene: Pittonia 2: 167. (1891) |
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