Erigeron lobatus
Amer. J. Bot. 21: 580. 1934.
Annuals, mostly 10–40(–50) cm; taprooted. Stems erect, sparsely hispido-pilose (hairs spreading, straight, 0.6–2 mm), densely stipitate-glandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; basal and proximal cauline blades obovate-spatulate, 50–100(–150) × 4–25 mm, cauline gradually reduced (lobing distally), margins pinnatifid or bipinnatifid with (1–)2–4 pairs of rounded to acute lobes, faces sparsely hispido-pilose, stipitate-glandular. Heads 1–5 (peduncles long, ebracteate). Involucres 3–4 × 6–10 mm. Phyllaries in 2–3 series (sometimes basally connate, broad, thin) sparsely hispido-pilose, stipitate glandular. Ray florets 85–110; corollas white, drying dark blue, 6–9 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 1.8–2.9 mm. Cypselae 1.2–1.4 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of scales (sometimes connate, forming crowns), inner of 11–12 bristles.
Phenology: Flowering (Jan–)Feb–May(–Oct).
Habitat: Stream banks, sandy lake shores, dry washes, desert or riparian scrub, sometime with creosote bush
Elevation: 300–1200 m
Distribution
Ariz., Calif., Nev., Mexico (Sonora).
Discussion
Erigeron lobatus is characterized by persistent basal and proximal cauline leaves with rounded to acute lobes, vestiture of stipitate glands and sparse, spreading, hispido-pilose hairs, heads on relatively long, ebracteate peduncles, and broad, thin phyllaries. Erigeron divergens often is similar; its glandularity is not stipitate and its nonglandular hairs are shorter and denser.
Selected References
None.