About Erigeron inornatus (A.Gray) A.Gray
Erigeron inornatus (A.Gray) A.Gray is a North American flowering plant species in the Asteraceae family. It has several common names: California rayless daisy, California rayless fleabane, rayless fleabane, and Lava rayless fleabane. This species is native to the western United States. It grows primarily in the mountains of Oregon and California, with additional scattered populations found in Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. It is a perennial herb with variable appearance, reaching up to 90 cm (3 feet) in height. Its foliage can be either hairy or hairless. Narrow leaves several centimeters long extend all the way up its stem. At the top of each stem branch sits an inflorescence holding 1 to 15 flower heads. Each flower head is roughly 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) wide and has a flat-topped shape. Each flower head contains numerous disc florets that range in color from golden yellow to wispy white, and produces no ray florets. Three varieties of this species are recognized: Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus, found in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington; Erigeron inornatus var. calidipetris G.Nesom, found in California from Siskiyou County to Plumas County; and Erigeron inornatus var. keilii G.Nesom, found in Fresno County and Tulare County, California.
