Howell’s fleabane

Erigeron salsuginosus (Richardson ex R. Brown) A. Gray var. howellii A. Gray, Notes Compositae, 93. 1880

Perennials, 20–50 cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices simple, thick. Stems erect to basally ascending, proximally glabrous, distally sparsely to densely strigillose, eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; basal and proximal cauline blades spatulate, 50–200 × 15–45 mm, little reduced distally until distal to midstems, margins entire or shallowly serrate to denticulate, finely ciliate, faces glabrous, eglandular; mid blades ovate to cordate (bases clasping to subclasping). Heads 1. Involucres 6–8 × 12–20 mm. Phyllaries in 2–3(–4) series, glabrous, densely minutely glandular. Ray florets 30–50; corollas white, 13–25 mm (mostly 1.5–3 mm wide), laminae coiling. Disc corollas 4–5 mm. Cypselae 2.5–3 mm, subterete, (4–)5(–6)-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 20–30 bristles.

Flowering May–Jul. Drainage of Columbia River, steep north-facing slopes with little soil, sometimes in seepage, commonly with Douglas fir; of conservation concern; (60–)500–1200(–1500) m; Oreg., Wash.