Erigeron aequifolius
Encyclopedia
Erigeron aequifolius is a rare species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common names Hall's daisy and Hall's fleabane.
, where it is known from fewer than 20 occurrences in the High Sierra Nevada. It grows in woodlands and coniferous forests.
and taproot
. The small leaves are equal in size and evenly spaced along the stem. The inflorescence
is a usually solitary flower head
at the tip of the stem. The head contains many yellow disc florets surrounded by a fringe of ray florets which are white when new and turn blue as they dry. The fruit is a tiny achene
with a pappus
of bristles.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common names Hall's daisy and Hall's fleabane.
Distribution
It is endemic to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is known from fewer than 20 occurrences in the High Sierra Nevada. It grows in woodlands and coniferous forests.
Description
Erigeron aequifolius is is a small perennial herb growing a hairy, glandular stem up to about 20 centimeters tall from a woody caudexCaudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
and taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
. The small leaves are equal in size and evenly spaced along the stem. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a usually solitary flower head
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
at the tip of the stem. The head contains many yellow disc florets surrounded by a fringe of ray florets which are white when new and turn blue as they dry. The fruit is a tiny achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
with a pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
of bristles.