Common name:
Bear river fleabane
Family:
Scientific name:
Erigeron ursinus
Main flower color:
Range:
The Four Corners states, a small area of Nevada, and the northern Rocky Mountains
Height:
Up to 12 inches
Habitat:
Meadows and high elevation woodland; 8,000 to 12,000 feet
Leaves:
Narrow, oblanceolate, up to 5 inches long and 0.4 inches across
Season:
July to September
Erigeron ursinus is a high elevation species, found in woodland and grassy areas, and often forms small mats, spreading via the root system. Basal leaves are unlobed, and relatively long and narrow - widest near the top, with a sparse covering of appressed hairs. Edges are ciliate. Leaves grow at the base and at wide intervals along the short stems; stem leaves are smaller, and linear in shape. Stems are often purplish, especially at the base. Stems are usually lightly hairy, and are sometimes glandular at the top.
Stems usually bear one flowerhead, but sometimes up to three. Flowerheads have between 30 to 100 pink or pale purple ray florets, their corollas about half an inch long. The glandular phyllaries (in three to four rows, and approximately equal in size) are often purple at the tip, and partially curved outwards, somewhat irregularly. They are covered by quite long, straggly white hairs.
Stems usually bear one flowerhead, but sometimes up to three. Flowerheads have between 30 to 100 pink or pale purple ray florets, their corollas about half an inch long. The glandular phyllaries (in three to four rows, and approximately equal in size) are often purple at the tip, and partially curved outwards, somewhat irregularly. They are covered by quite long, straggly white hairs.
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