Subalpine Fleabane

Perennials, 5–55(–70) cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, caudices usually simple, thick. Stems erect to basally ascending, hirsute to hirsuto- or strigoso-villous (hairs loosely appressed, slightly crinkled), sometimes loosely strigose distally (var. thompsonii), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; basal blades linear-oblanceolate to broadly lanceolate or spatulate, (30–)50–100 × 5–25 mm, cauline gradually reduced distally (bases distinctly subclasping, except when greatly reduced), margins entire, faces hirsute, hirsuto-villous, sparsely villosulous, glabrate, or glabrous, eglandular. Heads 1. Involucres 5–9(–12) × 10–22(–25) mm. Phyllaries in 2–3(–4) series (margins usually ciliate), abaxially sparsely to moderately villoso-hirsute, usually eglandular, sometimes sparsely gland-dotted apically, rarely sparsely so over adaxial faces (especially in var. thompsonii). Ray florets 30–80; corollas usually blue to rose purple or pink, sometimes white to pale blue, 12–20(–25) mm (mostly 1.5–3 mm wide), laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3.5–4.5 mm. Cypselae 2.5–2.8 mm, (4–)5(–7)-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 20–32 bristles.

Aster peregrinus Banks ex Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. 2: 556. 1813

Erigeron peregrinus is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common name wandering fleabane.

Erigeron peregrinus is native to northwestern North America from Alaska to Oregon. Some populations from farther south (California, Colorado, etc.) were formerly considered as belonging to this species, but they have now either been moved to other taxa or recognized as distinct species.

Erigeron peregrinus is a perennial herb up to 70 centimeters (28 inches) in height, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. It has hairless to hairy leaves reaching up to 10 centimeters long at the base of the branching stem, getting smaller higher up on the stem. The plant usually produces only one flower head per stem, each with 30–80 blue, purple, pink, or white ray florets surrounding numerous disc florets. Flowers bloom July to August. Its habitats include stream banks, bogs, and moist mountain meadows.

Varieties Erigeron peregrinus var. peregrinus - Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta Erigeron peregrinus var. thompsonii (S.F.Blake ex J.W. Thompson) Cronquist - Washington