In 1753 Linnaeus gave the genus its name from the Greek "eri" ("early") + "geron" ("old man"  --  "geriatrics" is the study of old age processes and problems).  Perhaps the Greek name refers to characteristics of some now unknown plant or perhaps to the early flowering of many species and to the bristly pappus of the developing seed, or to the puffy, grizzled appearance of the mature seed head.

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This abundant Erigeron sends out runners (seen at the five, seven, eight, and nine o'clock positions in the bottom center of the photograph) and colonizes large areas in meadows and along roadsides.  Thousands of square feet of meadows are often dotted white with Erigeron flagellaris.  Its ray flowers are bright white and numerous and its disk flowers are very densely packed and bright yellow.  Basal leaves are numerous and light green.

The runners, sometimes called "whips", give rise to another common name, "Whiplash Daisy", and to the Latin specific epithet, "flagellaris", meaning "whip".

Augustus Fendler first collected this plant in 1846 in New Mexico and it was described and named by Asa Gray in 1849.  (More biographical information.)

Subalpine, alpine. Openings, tundra. Summer.
Lake Hope Trail, July 15, 2008.

Black phyllaries (see picture below), basal spoon-shaped leaves, and a large, showy flower identify this very small and common high altitude Erigeron.  Several short, often twisting leaves are common high on the flower stalk.  Plants can be six inches tall but they are commonly as tall as the plant in the photograph, just two inches.  Many dozens of plants often dot an area with their brilliant white flowers.

Aven Nelson first collected this plant in the Medicine Bow Mountains of Wyoming; he named and described it in 1896.  "Melanocephalus" is Greek for "black head".

Click for the setting that Erigeron melanocephalus grows in.

Subalpine, alpine. Openings, tundra. Summer.
Lake Hope Trail, July 15, 2008.

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

This lovely Erigeron grows only on shifting rocks and scree slopes.  Its habitat and sage-green, lobed basal leaves make it very easy to identify  -- in contrast to most other Erigerons.  Where you find one cluster of plants, you will find many more, scattered in the rocks near tree-line.

Edwin Payson (1893-1927) collected this plant in Utah and named it in 1926.  "Vagus" (as in "vagabond") is Latin for "wandering".

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

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

Basal leaves are usually quite hairy and distinctly shaped.

Click for Blue Erigerons