Perennials, (8-)25-90 cm; taprooted, caudices woody. Stems erect, sparsely hirsuto-villous (hairs 0.6-2 mm) or glabrous, densely stipitate-glandular (at least on distal ¹ / 2 , glands relatively large, capitate). Leaves basal (sometimes withering by flowering) and cauline; basal blades 15-60 × 8-37 mm, cauline gradually reduced distally, margins deeply pinnatifid, lobes 2-4(-5) pairs, faces usually glabrous, stipitate-glandular. Heads (1-)5-25(-50) in loosely corymbiform arrays. Involucres 4.5-5.5 × 8-12 mm. Phyllaries in 3-4 series, glabrous or sparsely hirsute, densely stipitate-glandular. Ray florets 75-130; corollas white, 8-14 mm, laminae reflexing. Disc corollas 2.8-3.5 mm. Cypselae 1-1.2 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner (readily falling) of (8-)10-12 bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul-Oct(-Nov). Open, rocky habitats, cliff ledges or crevices, grassland, chaparral, oak, pine, pine-fir; 1100-2800(-3100) m; Ariz., N.Mex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora).

Erigeron oreophilus is similar to E. neomexicanus in its perennial habit, typically pinnatifid leaves, white, reflexing rays, and 10-12 readily falling pappus bristles; it has a vestiture of dense, viscid, stipitate glands and sparse, spreading, nonglandular hairs.

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Taprooted perennial with woody caudex, 25-90 cm tall, stems erect, sparsely hirsuto-villous with hairs 0.6-2 mm, or glabrous to densely stipitate-glandular.

Leaves: Basal and cauline, basal sometimes withering by flowering; basal blades 15-60 mm long, 8-37 mm wide, cauline reduced above, margins deeply pinnatifid, lobes 2-4 pairs, faces usually glabrous, stipitate-glandular.

Flowers: Heads 5-25 in loosely corymbiform arrays, involucres 4.5-5.5 mm by 8-12 mm; phyllaries in 3-4 series, glabrous or sparsely hirsute, densely stipitate-glandular; ray florets 75-130, corollas white, 8-14 mm, with laminae reflexing; disc corollas 2.8-3.5 mm.

Fruits: Cypselae 1-1.2 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose, with pappus of setae in outer and readily falling inner 10-12 bristles.

Ecology: Found in open rocky habitats, to rocky crevices or cliff ledges, to grasslands and mixed woodlands from 3,500-9,500 ft (1067-2896 m); flowers July-October.

Notes: Similar to E. neomexicanus in its perennial habit, pinnatifid leaves, white, reflexing rays, and 10-12 readily falling pappus bristles, but is different by virtue of having dense, viscid, stipitate glands and sparse, spreading, nonglandular hairs, these on the stems, leaves, and phyllaries.

Ethnobotany: Unknown, but other species in the genera have uses.

Etymology: Erigeron means Early-Old-Man, as named by Theophrastus, while oreophilus means mountain loving.

Synonyms: Erigeron delphiniifolius var. oreophilus

Editor: SBuckley, 2010