About Erigeron aphanactis (A.Gray) Greene
Erigeron aphanactis (A.Gray) Greene is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, with the common names rayless daisy and rayless shaggy fleabane. This wildflower is native to the western United States, found primarily in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions. This range includes eastern California, Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, southern Idaho, and eastern Oregon. It grows in sage, scrub, and open woodland habitats. It is a short, clumping perennial. Its stems and foliage are covered in stiff hairs and resin glands. Most of its narrow, fuzzy leaves are located near the base of the plant. Erect stems hold inflorescences with one or more flat, buttonlike flower heads. These heads contain numerous golden yellow disc florets, but no ray florets. Each flower head is approximately 10 mm (0.4 inches) wide. Two varieties are recognized: Erigeron aphanactis var. aphanactis, which occurs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah; and Erigeron aphanactis var. congestus (Greene) Cronquist, which occurs in California, Nevada, and Utah.
