Erigeron velutipes

Annuals, 5-20 cm; taprooted. Stems usually erect, sometimes ascending, sparsely hispido-pilose (hairs 0.5-1.5 mm), densely and minutely stipitate-glandular. Leaves basal (and proximal cauline abruptly withering) and cauline; basal and proximal cauline blades lanceolate-obovate to narrowly obovate-spatulate, 80-650 × 4-16 mm, cauline reduced, margins usually with 1-2(-3) pairs of shallow teeth, sometimes entire, faces sparsely hispido-pilose, minutely glandular. Heads 1(-3). Involucres 2.5-3.5 × 5-7(-9) mm. Phyllaries in 2-3 series, sparsely hispido-pilose, minutely glandular. Ray florets 50-75; corollas white to bluish, drying blue, 3.5-5.5 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 1.7-2.4 mm. Cypselae 0.8-1.1 mm, 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of ca. 20 bristles. 2n = 54.

Flowering Mar-May. Moist soil at edge of seep; 1300-1400 m (400-2600 m in Mexico); Ariz.; Mexico.

Erigeron velutipes is known from a single locality in southern Arizona. It is closely similar to E. lobatus and E. piscaticus. The group needs detailed study.