Subalpine, alpine. Rocks. Spring summer.
Robertson Pasture Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, May 31, 2006 and June 25, 2010.

This lovely Erigeron grows only on shifting rocks and scree slopes.  Its habitat and sage-green, lobed basal leaves make it relatively easy to identify  -- in contrast to the difficulty of identifying a number of other Erigerons.  The difficulty is in first finding Erigeron vagus, for it is quite small and blends into its habitat. When you do find one plant, you will usually find many, scattered in the rocks near tree-line or on rocky, wind-swept knolls.

Edwin Payson (1893-1927) collected this plant in Utah and named it in 1926.  "Vagus" (as in "vagabond") is Latin for "wandering" and alludes to the ability of the plant to shift with the shifting habitat of scree slopes that this plant enjoys.

Subalpine, alpine. Rocks. Spring summer.
Robertson Pasture Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, May 31, 2006 and June 25, 2010.

Hairs abound on phyllaries, flower stems, and leaves.  Phyllaries are often purple or purple tipped (as here).  Ray flowers are white to pink/lavender.

Subalpine, alpine. Rocks. Spring summer.
Robertson Pasture Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, May 31, 2006.

Basal leaves are usually quite hairy and distinctly stubby and fan-shaped.  Notice last year's gray, brown, and yellow dried stems and leaves.

Subalpine, alpine. Rocks. Spring summer.
Robertson Pasture Trail, Abajo Mountains, Utah, June 25, 2010.

Erigeron vagus is said to grow in alpine scree but it also grows at lower altitudes where conditions are similar.  The photographs on this page show the plant growing on this rocky knoll at 10,800 feet. Numerous other plants, including Oxytropis parryi, are scattered through the rocks.