Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms → Eudicots → Asterids
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Erigeron
- Species: Erigeron flettii Rydb.
Common name
- Flett’s fleabane
Description
Erigeron flettii is a perennial herbaceous plant that typically reaches 10–30 cm in height. It forms a basal rosette of narrow, linear‑to‑lanceolate leaves, each 2–6 cm long, with a slightly pubescent surface. The flowering stems are slender, erect, and often bear a single capitulum. Each flower head consists of 30–60 white to pale lavender ray florets surrounding a central disc of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a cypsela topped with a pappus of bristles that aid in wind dispersal.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, United States. It is known from a limited number of occurrences in subalpine and alpine zones, typically occupying rocky slopes, talus fields, and open meadows at elevations of 1,200–1,800 m.
Ecology
Erigeron flettii flowers from July to August, attracting a variety of pollinating insects, principally native bees and flies. Its short life cycle and low stature are adaptations to the brief growing season and harsh climatic conditions of high‑elevation environments.
Conservation status
Due to its restricted range and specialized habitat, the species is classified as a rarity of conservation concern. The Washington Natural Heritage Program lists E. flettii as a “State Endangered” taxon. Primary threats include habitat disturbance from recreational activities, climate‑induced shifts in alpine ecosystems, and the encroachment of invasive plant species.
Etymology
The specific epithet flettii honors George H. Flett (1860–1948), a botanist who collected extensively in the Pacific Northwest and contributed specimens of this species to herbaria.
References
- Rydberg, P. W. (1915). “New Species of Erigeron from the Pacific Northwest.” Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 51, 595–603.
- Washington Natural Heritage Program. (2023). “Rare Plant Inventory: Erigeron flettii.”
- USDA, NRCS. “Plants Database: Erigeron flettii.”
Erigeron flettii is a narrowly endemic flowering plant of the Olympic Mountains, distinguished by its modest size, white‑lavender ray florets, and a conservation status that reflects its limited distribution and habitat specificity.
