Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis
Limestone daisy
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis (Limestone daisy) is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by limestone habitat and tiny size diagnostic.
Limestone daisy is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in western White and Inyo Mountains and Mojave Desert in limestone crevices, sagebrush scrub, and subalpine forest at elevations of 2,100 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white to pale pink ray flowers in small heads 6 to 11 millimeters wide. Growing as a tiny perennial just 1 to 4 centimeters tall with a slender-branched caudex, it spreads with delicate, hairy stems. Its basal leaves are widely elliptic to obovate, 5 to 25 millimeters long, long-petioled and loosely covered with soft hairs. The flower heads feature 15 to 40 ray flowers with rays 4 to 6 millimeters long, creating a delicate alpine appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species; limestone habitat and tiny size diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Limestone crevices, sagebrush scrub, subalpine forest
Elevation: 2100-2900 m
California counties: Inyo, San Bernardino
Outside California: central Nevada
Bloom period
Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
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 uncialis var. uncialis native to California?
Yes. Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis bloom?
Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis grow?
Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis occurs in Inyo, San Bernardino, at elevations of 2100-2900 m.
What plant family does Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis belong to?
Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis is in the Asteraceae family, genus Erigeron.
Is Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis rare or endangered?
Erigeron uncialis var. uncialis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Erigeron utahensis — Utah daisy
- Erigeron vagus — Rambling fleabane
- Erigeron aequifolius — Hall's daisy
- Erigeron algidus — Sierra fleabane
- Erigeron aliceae — Alice eastwood's fleabane
- Erigeron annuus — Annual fleabane
- Eriophyllum ambiguum — Annual woolly sunflower
- Eriophyllum ambiguum var. ambiguum — Beautiful woolly sunflower
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.