Erigeron reductus
Little rayless fleabane, Little Rayless Fleabane
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Erigeron reductus (Little rayless fleabane) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by Small glabrous rayless fleabane; thread-like cauline leaves, no basal leaves; NCoR-SnFrB-KR-n SNH.
Little rayless fleabane is a California native perennial found in rocky or open areas, characterized by its diminutive size and thread-like leaves. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces no ray flowers and instead features small discoid flower heads with green to purple-tinted phyllary bracts. Growing with a single ascending to erect stem 8 to 20 centimeters tall, it emerges from a woody, slender rhizome-like branched caudex. Its cauline leaves are thread-like to linear, 1 to 4 centimeters long, sparsely hairy with ascending ciliate margins. The plant's unique characteristics include its lack of ray flowers and densely glandular, graduated phyllary series.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Small glabrous rayless fleabane; thread-like cauline leaves, no basal leaves; NCoR-SnFrB-KR-n SNH.
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 reductus native to California?
Yes. Erigeron reductus is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Erigeron reductus belong to?
Erigeron reductus 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.