Another hairy beast

Erigeron grandiflorus, June 27, 2023

Common & scientific name

Rocky Mountain alpine fleabane, Erigeron grandiflorus

Family

Sunflower, Asteraceae

Location

Above Linkins Lake, 12,300’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact

This large-headed but small-statured daisy is found throughout our subalpine and alpine meadows. Its ray florets (the parts that look like petals) can number over 100. Its phyllaries (the small leaf-like parts enfolding its ray flowers) are covered in shaggy white and/or purple hairs. It can be distinguished from Erigeron simplex by its vastly hairier leaves, stem, and phyllaries, and I think its always deep-purple ray flowers. Some botanists lump the two, others don’t. I feel they are readily distinguishable, with E. simplex being much more common in our area.