Elmer’s fleabane

Aster elmeri Greene, Pittonia 2: 170. 1891; Erigeron breweri A. Gray var. elmeri (Greene) Jepson

Perennials, 6–20 cm; apparently taprooted (often not evident or not collected), rhizomes relatively slender, woody fibrous-rooted or rhizomelike caudex branches. Stems prostrate to decumbent-trailing, less commonly ascending-erect (without axillary leaf tufts), sparsely to moderately strigose, eglandular. Leaves cauline; blades narrowly lanceolate to oblong, 5–20 × 1–2 mm, relatively even-sized, margins entire, faces strigose, eglandular. Heads 1 or 2–3. Involucres 3.5–5 × 7–10 mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series (often purple-tipped; margins of inner narrowly scarious), glabrous, minutely glandular. Ray florets 12–21; corollas white, drying bluish, 5–6 mm, laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3.5–4 mm (throats slightly indurate, not inflated). Cypselae 1.6–2.5 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 18–26 bristles.

Flowering Jun–Sep. Ledges, crevices, cracks, talus; 1300–3300 m; Calif.