Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus
Mendocino erigeron
(c) Madeleine Claire, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Madeleine Claire · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus (Mendocino erigeron) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by long rays and riparian habitat.
Mendocino erigeron is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and northern coastal California in river bars, banks, ledges, and dry slopes at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to lavender ray flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long with numerous rays arranged in delicate clusters. Growing with slender stems up to 50 centimeters tall, it develops a compact, somewhat spreading growth habit. Its leaves are narrow, 20 to 50 millimeters long and generally 2 to 4 millimeters wide, with fine ciliate hairs along the margins. The flower heads feature phyllaries with distinctive glandular and bristly-strigose surfaces, creating a textured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 34 sympatric species; long rays and riparian habitat help distinguish
Habitat and range
Habitat: River bars, banks, ledges, dry slopes
Elevation: < 800 m
Bloom period
Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus blooms May-Aug.
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 foliosus var. mendocinus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus bloom?
Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus belong to?
Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus grow in?
Erigeron foliosus var. mendocinus grows in River bars, banks, ledges, dry slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.