Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Aster exscapus, Townsendia intermedia, Townsendia sericea
Other common names
stemless daisy
Easter daisy
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1 inch
Riparian
No
Very short perennials, grow in compact mounds a few inches wide, are aptly named excapa, Latin for "without a stem". The large flower heads seem too big for the plant. Plants are evergreen, wintering as a small ball of leaves.
Plants of no stems or very short stems; leaves in crowded basal tufts; flower heads sessile in the basal leaves; ray flowers white or pinkish, disc flowers yellow; sepals of disc flowers many bristled.
Habitat
Openings among ponderosa pines or oaks, rock crevices, meadows, gravelly hills, sandy soils.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
7300
Flower Characteristics
Flower head 3/4 to 2 inches wide, has 20 to 40 long, narrow, white petals and a yellow center; petals are pink below.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves narrow, grayish-haired, 1 to 2 inches long, 1/8 inch wide, in a dense, basal rosette.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes less than 1/4 inch long, hairy, the fertile achenes orange at maturity.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Orange