Basin Fleabane

Perennials, (5–)7–30(–35) cm; taprooted, caudex branches relatively short and thick. Stems erect (gray-green), moderately to densely gray-green-strigose (hairs white, stiff), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline (gray-green; petiole bases broadened or not, not thickened and whitish-indurate); basal blades linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 10–70 × 1–3(–5) mm, cauline little reduced for about ¹ / 2 – ³ / 4 stems, margins entire, faces moderately to densely strigose (hairs white, stiff), eglandular. Heads 1. Involucres 5–7(–9) × 10–16(–20) mm. Phyllaries in 2–3(–4) series, hirsute to villoso-hirsute, minutely glandular. Ray florets 25–60; corollas white to pink or bluish, 8–15 mm, laminae coiling. Disc corollas 3.8–5.7 mm. Cypselae 2.5–3 mm, (2–)4(–5)-nerved, faces densely strigoso-sericeous; pappi: outer sometimes of setae or bristles (to 0.5 lengths of inner), inner of 32–50 bristles.

Erigeron bistiensis G. L. Nesom & Hevron; E. pulcherrimus var. wyomingia (Rydberg) Cronquist

Erigeron pulcherrimus is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name basin fleabane. The species grows in the western United States in the eastern part of the Intermountain Region west of the Rocky Mountains. It has been found in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Erigeron pulcherrimus is a perennial herb up to 35 centimeters (14 inches) tall, producing a large taproot. The plant generally produces only 1 flower head per stem. Each head has 25–60 blue, pink or white ray florets surrounding numerous yellow disc florets. The species grows in dry places with silty or gravelly soil, sometimes high in salt, selenium, or gypsum.