Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Erigeron divergens var. typicus, Erigeron incomptus
Other common names
branching fleabane
fleabane daisy
rough fleabane
desert fleabane
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or annual
Height
To 18 inches
Riparian
Yes
A short, spreading plant whose delicate leaves and branches are covered in short, grayish hairs. At the tip of each branch is a flower head made up of many white to lavender rays surrounding a yellow disc.
Short taproot biennial, sometimes annual; herbage with short spreading hairs; erect to ascending stems leafy from the start, without spreading leafy branches; leaves alternate, blades linear; flowers of narrow white to purple ray and yellow disc flowers.
Habitat
Moist or dry valleys, ridges or meadow borders, wide variety of habitats including roadsides, riparian zones, woodlands and forests.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads 1 to 1-1/2 inches wide, consist of numerous white to lavender (light purple), narrow rays surrounding yellow disc flowers. A single flower head blooms at the tip of each branch. There may be up to 100 flowers per plant.
Flower color
White to light purple
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Basal leaves are narrowly spoon-shaped to 3 inches long. Stem leaves are erect, getting progressively smaller up the stem. The lower leaves are pinnately lobed. Both leaves and stems are covered with hairs giving them a fuzzy appearance.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
A small, oblong fruit that contains a single seed and is sparsely hairy and are topped with a cluster of fragile bristles surrounded by short, narrow scales.
Fruit type
Achene