Erigeron aphanactis
Rayless shaggy fleabane
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron aphanactis (Rayless shaggy fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Rayless (disciform) yellow-disk fleabane; stiffly spreading-hairy and minutely glandular; c SNH-SnBr-GB-desert mtns.
Rayless shaggy fleabane is a California native perennial herb found in rocky and dry habitats at elevations between 500 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces heads with no ray flowers, creating a distinctive disciform appearance with small white to cream-colored disk flowers. Growing densely tufted with stiffly spreading stems 8 to 25 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters from a short-branched caudex. Its leaves are linear-oblanceolate, measuring 4 to 7 centimeters long, with stiff spreading hairs and gradually reducing in size up the stem. The plant's involucre is 4 to 6 millimeters long, with phyllaries covered in coarse long hairs and minute glandular surfaces.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Rayless (disciform) yellow-disk fleabane; stiffly spreading-hairy and minutely glandular; c SNH-SnBr-GB-desert mtns.
How to tell it apart
vs Bellis: Erigeron has double-layered pappus (outer scales + inner bristles); Bellis completely lacks pappus.; vs Symphyotrichum: Erigeron has double pappus (2 layers); Symphyotrichum has single layer of uniform bristles.; vs Corethrogyne: Erigeron has simple unbranched stems; Corethrogyne has branched stems.; vs Pseudognaphalium: Erigeron has flat button-like flower heads; Pseudognaphalium has woolly clustered heads without rays.; vs Artemisia: Erigeron has obvious ray petals around yellow disk; Artemisia lacks ray petals entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erigeron aphanactis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron aphanactis is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Erigeron aphanactis belong to?
Erigeron aphanactis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.