The
photo at right shows the upper stem and stem leaves of Eaton's fleabane (var.
villosus) from Dixie Butte, Malheur N.F...........July 4, 2002.
Eaton's fleabane is an attractive perennial with a cluster of basal leaves and stems either erect or spreading near the ground before turning upwards at the upper stems. The stems are often purplish at the base and 5-30 cm tall. The herbage consists of fine, gray or whitish hairs, closely appressed to the stems and leaves. The basal leaves are triple-nerved with linear to narrowly oblanceolate blades, the tips acute and the lower blade tapering gradually to an indistinct petiole. The basal leaves range from 8-16 cm long. The several stem leaves are reduced in size upwards on the stem.
The flower heads are solitary or as many three, each on long peduncles. The 20-50 ray flowers are white or occasionally bluish in color and range from 5-11 mm long and1-3 mm wide. The central disk is yellowish. The involucre ranges from 5-8 mm high with many linear acute or acuminate tipped bracts, sometimes tipped with purple.
Variety eatonii: Involucral bracts overlapping and glandular.
Eaton's Lavender Daisy: Variety lavandulus - Found in the Wallowa Mts. and in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington.
Plantained Leaved Daisy: Variety plantagineus - Involucral bracts usually subequal and rarely glandular. Involucre only slightly covered with coarse, stiff hairs.
Eaton's Shaggy Fleabane: Variety villosus - Involucral bracts usually subequal and rarely glandular. Involucre conspicuously covere with white, coarse and stiff hairs.
Eaton's shaggy fleabane may be found in dry open woods or on open woody slopes in the foothills and mountains.
Eaton's shaggy fleabane may be found from central Washington south through central Oregon to California and east to northern Wyoming and south to northern Arizona.
Variety eatonii may be found at the eastern end of the range of the species, from southwestern Montana, west to southern idaho, and south through Wyoming to northern Arizona.
Variety plantagineus may be found at the southern end of the range of the species, from southern Oregon south to California and east to Nevada.
Variety villosus is found at the northwestern end of the range of the species, from central Washington east to central Idaho and south to south-central Oregon.
