Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Trailing Fleabane
Erigeron flagellaris
Aster family (Asteraceae)

This very common and very cute Erigeron sends out which root in at their tips and thus the plant colonizes large areas, especially in and along roadsides. The give rise to both common names: "Trailing Fleabane," and "Whiplash Daisy." The Latin specific epithet, "flagellaris," means "whip." Erigerons often fool us into thinking they will have pink flowers, for the buds are often tinged pink. It is common, however, for most Erigerons to have flowers that range from white to pink to light blue. Erigeron flagellaris can be confused with Erigeron tracyi because they both have obvious . But the of E. tracyi are much longer and root in very infrequently. E. tracyi is also a taller plant and is most often found in rocky areas.


©2013 Richard Spellenberg

Description

Low-growing , 3-8" tall, with trailing leafy to 6" long. Single flowerheads at the end of each stem which branches near base. Flower consists of numerous white surrounding button of green-yellow flowers. and most leaves on the are numerous, in clusters, and light green, narrow usually or . hairy, about the same length, lined up side by side, not overlapping. Stems hairy. hairy or nearly .

Field Marks

Dainty, low-growing with numerous ; white around green-yellow .

© Al Schneider

meadow -- Large grass and wildflower filled area with few, if any, trees.

achene -- a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. For example, a rose hip holds a few achenes.

disc flowers are those in the center of a sunflower or daisy. Not a ray flower.

ray flowers -- The outer petals of a sunflower or daisy are ray flowers.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

Involucre is the name given to the circle or spiral collection of bracts around a flower-cluster.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

stolon -- A slender modified stem running along the ground, rooting at the tip, and sprouting new plants. Strawberries have stolons. Also called runners.

linear -- Long and very narrow like a blade of grass.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

basal leaves -- a leaf that grows lowest on the stem of a plant.

lanceolate -- Lance-shaped. Long, wider in the middle.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.