Daisy vs. Fleabane

Erigeron peregrinus, July 11, 2023

July 18, 2023

Common & scientific name

Subalpine daisy, Erigeron peregrinus

Family

Sunflower, Asteraceae

Location

Lost Man Trail, 11,500’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact

I prefer “daisy” over the more commonly used “fleabane” for this lovely flower—it deserves better! (“Fleabane” apparently referred to the Erigeron genus’s ability to drive away fleas or other insects when burned—which would probably hold true for many things.) This Erigeron can be distinguished from the many lavender/purple erigerons to come this summer by its wider florets and red-tipped phyllaries that curl backward (photo below).

July 18, 2023

Linkins Lake, 12,000’, August 7, 2023