About Erigeron linearis (Hook.) Piper
Erigeron linearis (Hook.) Piper is a small clumping perennial herb with a woody taproot, that grows to a maximum height of 20 centimeters (8 inches). Its leaves are long and narrow, mostly clustered around the base of the stem, and measure 2 to 9 cm (3⁄4 to 3+1⁄2 in) long. They range in color from pale green to green, and are lightly covered with short white hairs. The erect, lightly hairy flower stems are leafless or bear a few reduced linear leaves, and usually produce only one flower head per stem (though they occasionally grow 2 or 3). Each flower head is about 1 cm (3⁄8 in) wide. The flower has a center made up of many golden yellow disc florets, surrounded by a fringe of up to 38 pale to bright yellow or cream-colored ray florets. Its fruit is an achene attached to a fluffy pappus that has 10 to 20 bristles. Its seeds are presumably dispersed by wind. Erigeron linearis is native to the mountains of western North America, ranging from British Columbia south as far as Wyoming, northern Nevada, and Mono County in California. This species grows on open rocky slopes alongside the shrubs sagebrush, bitterbrush, and juniper. Some Plateau Indian tribes used this plant, also called desert yellow fleabane, as a poultice to treat sores.
