Subalpine Fleabane Erigeron glacialis Aster family (Asteraceae)
fleabane is very visible when high-elevation bloom. It's often seen in rich displays with paintbrush and arnica in moist and along streams. fleabane is sometimes mistaken for leafy aster (Symphyotrichum foliaceum), also common in these habitats. One can differentiate between the two species by examining the small, leaf-like surrounding each flower head. The of fleabane are sticky-feeling due to the presence of tiny hairs. Leafy aster usually has more than one head per stem and does not have . Almost all Erigerons have very narrow , typically about 1 ; those of E. glacialis are about 2 millimeters.
growing from short, fibrous . Stems grow up to 27" tall and bear solitary, showy, purple and yellow flower heads. The leaves are highly variable, ranging from elongated to spoon-shaped in outline. are largest (up to 8"), gradually becoming smaller toward the top of the stem. Flower heads are about 1" wide with purple along the perimeter and yellow flowers clustered in the center of each head. The leaf-like surrounding each flower head are dotted with tiny hairs and and feel slightly sticky.
