Semi-desert. Openings, woodlands, shrublands. Spring and summer.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 25, 2010.

Erigeron aphanactis is rayless and thus is unusual for almost all Erigeron have ray and disk flowers. If one tries to key this plant from the beginning of an Asteraceae key, it is quite easy, therefore, to wind up nowhere, for some keys do not include rayless Erigerons.  Stanley Welsh's key does; William Weber's key does not, but if you follow your instincts and start with the Erigerons in Weber's key , you will end up at Erigeron concinnus and see a note that there is a "rayless form" called Erigeron aphanactis.  I certainly would not call E. aphanactis a "form" for although it superficially resembles E. concinnus in its hairiness, overall appearance, and habitat, even a quick comparison of the two shows they are quite different. Click to see for yourself.

As it is too often the case, the confusion does not end with E. aphanactis versus E. concinnus.  Welsh's key (and the Intermountain Flora key) do not accept E. concinnus.  For these keys the species is E. pumilus.

Erigeron aphanactis
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)  

Semi-desert. Openings, woodlands, shrublands. Spring and summer.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 25, 2010.

This species was first named Erigeron concinnus variety aphanactis by Asa Gray in 1865 from a specimen collected in Nevada by C. L. Anderson.  Edward Greene renamed the species Erigeron aphanactis in 1897.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Erigeron aphanactis