Erigeron hyssopifolius
Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 123. 1803.
Perennials, 5–35 cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices sometimes branched. Stems erect, sparsely and loosely strigose to strigoso-villous, eglandular. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline much reduced or present as scales; cauline blades linear to linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 10–30 × 1–5 mm, largest at midstem, then relatively even-sized to peduncles, margins entire, sometimes prominently ciliate, faces glabrous or sparsely villous. Heads 1(–5). Involucres 4–6 × 6–12 mm. Phyllaries in 2–3 series, loosely and sparsely strigose, eglandular. Ray florets 20–50; corollas white, less commonly pinkish, or aging pinkish, 4–8 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 3–4.6 mm. Cypselae 1.3–1.6 mm, 5–6-nerved, faces glabrous; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 25–35 bristles. 2n = 18.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Open woods, river gravel, rock ledges and crevices, gravel barrens, roadsides
Elevation: 0–500 m
Distribution
Alta., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Sask., Yukon, Maine, Mich., N.H., N.Y., Vt.
Discussion
Variety villicaulis, from Anticosti Island (Quebec) and Newfoundland, has been distinguished on the basis of its relatively shorter stature (mostly 3–15 cm) and greater ratio of peduncle to leafy-stem lengths (stems and peduncles as long as or longer than the leafy parts of stems); the distinction appears to be arbitrary.
Selected References
None.