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Field Guide


Garrett's Fleabane

Garrett's Fleabane (Erigeron garrettii)
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Photo by Bill Gray; Bill Gray

Erigeron garrettii

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

  • SGCN

External links


General information

Erigeron garrettii is known only from the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake County and Wasatch County, Utah where it grows along a 25 mile section of habitat. This high elevation species is found on moist cliff faces and crevices where limestone is present and often grows right out of these porous rocks where water is easily stored and absorbed. Garretts fleabane is a classic daisy having white to pink ray flowers and a cluster of golden disk flowers in the center. The shiny basal leaves are long and mostly hairless. This species was named in honor of a pioneer plant collector Albert Osbun Garrett who authored many editions of the widely used Spring Flora of the Wasatch.

Description

Erigeron garrettii is known only from the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake County and Wasatch County, Utah where it grows along a 25 mile section of habitat. This high elevation species is found on moist cliff faces and crevices where limestone is present and often grows right out of these porous rocks where water is easily stored and absorbed. Garretts fleabane is a classic daisy having white to pink ray flowers and a cluster of golden disk flowers in the center. The shiny basal leaves are long and mostly hairless. This species was named in honor of a pioneer plant collector Albert Osbun Garrett who authored many editions of the widely used Spring Flora of the Wasatch.

Phenology

Flowers from June to August. 

Diagnostic characteristics

This species is morphologically intermediate between Erigeron peregrinus var. scaposus and Erigeron leiomeris which do not grow in the Wasatch Mountains.  In the region Erigeron garrettii  grows it can be distinguished by its subscapose flowering stalks and showy, white to pink petaled ray flowers. 

Species range

The Wasatch Range in Salt Lake County and Wasatch County, Utah.

Threats or limiting factors

Plants occur in remote areas; however, activities that could damage cliff habitat such as rock climbing are a threat (UNPS accessed 2024).

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies