Erigeron pallens

Perennials, 2-6(-10) cm; taprooted, caudices diffuse with extensive systems of rhizomelike, relatively long and slender branches. Stems erect (simple, ± scapiform), sparsely hirsuto-villous, minutely glandular. Leaves mostly basal (persistent); blades oblanceolate to spatulate, 10-25 × 2-4 mm, margins entire or shallowly 3-lobed apically (apices obtuse to nearly truncate), faces sparsely villous, minutely glandular. Heads 1. Involucres 6-8 × 9-13 mm. Phyllaries in 2-3 series (commonly purplish or purple at tips), sparsely villous (hairs often becoming tawny, without purple cross walls), minutely glandular. Ray florets 50-60; corollas white to pink or purplish, 4-5(-6) mm, laminae (filiform, ca. 0.5-0.8 mm wide, involute) erect, not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 3.5-5 mm. Cypselae (mature length not observed), 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 25-30 (tawny-white to yellowish) bristles. 2n = 18.

Flowering Jul-Aug. Alpine talus or other steep, dry, sparsely vegetated slopes; 2000-2200 m; Alta., B.C.

Erigeron pallens is known only from southeastern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta. Arctic plants previously identified as E. pallens mostly are E. denalii.