Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus
California rayless daisy
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Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus (California rayless daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by tall stature, long-ascending stems, appressed hairs.
California rayless daisy is a native perennial herb found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Warner Mountains, and surrounding regions in chaparral to pine and fir forests, and lava beds at elevations of 400 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white to pale lavender flowers in heads without prominent ray flowers. Growing with slender stems 30 to 90 centimeters tall that are long-ascending and proximally appressed-hairy or nearly hairless, it forms an open and delicate botanical profile. Its leaves are short-strigose or nearly glabrous, with proximal and middle leaves showing subtle variations in hair coverage. The inner phyllaries of its flower heads measure 4.5 to 5.5 millimeters long, contributing to its understated floral structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 68 sympatric species; key features are tall stature, long-ascending stems, appressed hairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral to pine/fir forest, lava beds
Elevation: 400-2300 m
Outside California: to Washington, northwestern Nevada
Bloom period
Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus blooms Jun-Sep.
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 inornatus var. inornatus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus bloom?
Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus belong to?
Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
What habitat does Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus grow in?
Erigeron inornatus var. inornatus grows in Chaparral to pine/fir forest, lava beds.
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.