Your late July roadside companion

Erigeron formossisimus, July 28, 2022

Common & scientific name
Beautiful fleabane, Erigeron formossisimus

Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae

Location
Grottos, 9,600’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
THIS is the purple daisy you see roadside, everywhere, around the middle of the Pass (9,500-10,500), standing 6-10” high.  To distinguish if from other Erigerons—of which we have MANY—look for  glandular, hairy, purplish phyllaries; stems with straight hairs, that usually support a single flower; and stem leaves progressively reduced in size and number as you move up the stem.