| Erigeron parishii | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Tribe: | Astereae |
| Genus: | Erigeron |
| Species: | E. parishii |
| Binomial name | |
| Erigeron parishii A.Gray |
|
Erigeron parishii is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common name Parish's fleabane.
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This wildflower is endemic to San Bernardino County, California, where it is a federally-listed threatened species losing habitat to development and the limestone mining industry on the north slope of the San Bernardino Mountains.
This is a small perennial daisy reaching a maximum height of about 30 centimeters. The taproot can penetrate the carbonate soils to a depth of half a meter.[1] Its stem and foliage are covered in silvery-white hairs and most of the leaves are basal and measure 3 to 6 centimeters long.
The erect stems have inflorescences of one to ten flower heads, each between one and two centimeters wide. The head has a center of golden yellow disc florets and a fringe of up to 55 lavender, pink, or white ray florets.
This plant usually grows on limestone substrates, or granite topped with a layer of limestone.[2] It apparently requires very alkaline soils.[1]
The same rock that the plant favors is also sought after for human use and limestone mining is the most significant threat to its habitat.[1]
The plant has a relatively high genetic diversity for a narrow endemic, a measure that will decrease with the habitat fragmentation that currently threatens it.[3]