[Daisies and Fleabanes: The Genus Erigeron in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Columbia Gorge Daisy, Gorge Daisy, Gorge Fleabane, Oregon Fleabane

Erigeron oreganus

Characteristics:

Columbia Gorge daisy is a pretty wildflower of Columbia River cliffsides. Its herbage is both glandular and loosely sticky-hairy. The stems are lax, ranging from 5-15 cm long, and arising from a tuft of basal leaves. The basal leaves are obovate to spatulate, coarsely toothed at the distal ends. They are up to 9 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. The stem leaves are well-developed and may be ovate, elliptic or lanceolate in shape, from 4 cm long to 1 cm wide.

The inflorescence is leafy, consisting of one to several heads. The disks are 9-13 mm wide, surrounded by 30-60 white, pink, or bluish rays. Individual rays are 5-8 mm long. The involucres are 5-7 mm tall, with loose, thin, and green bracts.

Habitat:

Columbia Gorge daisy is usually found on moist shady cliffs and ledges.

Range:

Columbia Gorge daisy is only found in the Columbia River Gorge between the elevations of 100'-1200' between Crown Pt and Mosier, OR. It is primarily found on the Oregon side of the river, which has a moister, shadier habitat.

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The photo above shows a large cluster of Columbia Gorge daisy growing from a crack in a shear cliff in the Columbia River Gorge.........May 21, 2005.

The cliff-side habitat of Columbia Gorge daisy as seen in eastern Hood River County, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.........April 3, 2015.

Columbia Gorge daisy as seen near Elowah Falls in the western Columbia River Gorge.........July 14, 2006.

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Columbia Gorge daisy in bud on shear cliffs in the western Columbia River Gorge..........May 30, 2009 (photos at left and center) and May 20, 2009 (photo at right).

Columbia Gorge daisy blooming on shear cliffs in the western Columbia River Gorge..........October 1, 2015.

Columbia Gorge daisy in bud on shear cliffs in the western Columbia River Gorge..........April 22, 2015.

Paul Slichter