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

Howell's Daisy, Howell's Fleabane

Erigeron howellii

Synonym: Erigeron salsuginosus var. howellii

The photo at right shows a close-up of the attractive flower head of Howell's daisy as seen in the western Columbia River Gorge.................May 21, 2005.

Characteristics:

Howell's daisy is a very pretty perennial wildflower often found in clusters of plants with several stems rising from a rhizome. The stems range from 20-50 cm in height. The leaves are thin, smooth, and a shiny green, with the lower ones elliptic to suborbicular, with the blade abruptly contracted to the 2-12 mm petiole. The lower leaves range from 2-8 cm long and 1.5-4.5 cm wide. The stems are many-leaved, with the leaf bases clasping. These leaves are ovate to cordate in shape.

The flower heads are solitary at the tips of the stems. The yellow central disks measure 12-20 mm wide, and 30-50 white rays surround the circumference of the disk. Individual rays are 13-25 mm long and 2-4 mm wide.

Erigeron howellii is closely related to Erigeron peregrinus.

Habitat:

Howell's daisy is found in moist, rocky places.

Range:

Howell's daisy is found only in the Columbia River Gorge. It is found on the Oregon side of the river between Angels Rest and Wind Mt. between the elevations of 200'-4000'.

The photo above shows the long-petioled oval leaves of Howell's daisy as seen in the western Columbia River Gorge........May 21, 2005.

Howells fleabane blooming along a trail in the western Columbia River Gorge..........May 30, 2009.

Close-ups of the basal leaves and flower heads of Howell's fleabane as seen in the western Columbia River Gorge........May 20, 2009.

The photo above shows the long-petioled oval leaves of Howell's daisy as seen in the western Columbia River Gorge........May 21, 2005.

Paul Slichter