''Erigeron lanatus'' is a species of flowering plant in the family
Asteraceae known by the common name woolly fleabane. It is native to western North America, where it occurs in the mountains straddling the border between
British Columbia and
Alberta and
Montana, with isolated populations occurring as far north as
Yukon and as far south as
Colorado.
[Williams, Tara Y. 1990]
''Erigeron lanatus''.
In: Fire Effects Information System, nline U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.[''Erigeron lanatus''.]
The Nature Conservancy.
''Erigeron lanatus'' is a small perennial herb growing just a few centimeters tall. The leaves are mostly basal, each roughly lance-shaped and up to 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) long. They are coated in loose, woolly fibers. The
inflorescence is made up of one
flower head with white or purple-tinged ''ray florets'' measuring about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) long. The head is lined with hairy purple or purple-tipped
phyllaries. Blooming occurs in July and August. The head is an
achene
An achene (; ), also sometimes called akene and occasionally achenium or achenocarp, is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate (formed from one carpel) and indehiscent (they do not ope ...
with a
pappus of bristles.
[''Erigeron lanatus''.]
Flora of North America.
''Erigeron lanatus'' grows in high-elevation
subalpine and
alpine climates. It is most often found growing in
limestone scree. It has been seen growing with
Siberian aster (''Aster sibiricus'') and
starwort (''Stellaria americana'').
[
Hiking and mining may threaten this species in some areas.][
]
References
lanatus
Flora of Western Canada
Plants described in 1834
Taxa named by William Jackson Hooker
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