Erigeron rhizomatus Cronq.

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Daniela Roth. 2001. Species account for Erigeron rhizomatus. Navajo Natural Heritage Program, P.O. Box 1480, Window Rock, AZ 86515.

Additional copies at http://nnhp.nndfw.org/ Revised: 15 MAY 2008

Zuni Fleabane, Rhizome Fleabane

Family:

Asteraceae Synonyms: None

NESL Status:

G2 Federal Status: Listed Threatened (50 FR 16680 16682)

Description:

Herbaceous perennial with creeping rhizomes; stems 2.5 – 4.5 dm tall, sparsely branching

from the base, growing in clumps ca 3 dm in diameter; leaves alternate, oblong, ca. 1 cm long, glabrous

with the occasional ciliate hairs on the margins; flower heads solitary, 13 – 16 cm wide, involucral bracts

in several series; ray flowers 25 – 45, white or tinged with blue-violet, 6 –7 mm long and 1.3 – 1.5 mm

wide; disk flowers yellow. Flowering typically occurs from late May through June.

Similar Species:

This species is distinct from other Erigerons by its rhizomatus habit, nearly hairless

achenes, with 5-6 nerves, and very few hairs on the stems and leaves.

Habitat:

Typically only found on fine textured clay hillsides of mid to high elevation between ca. 7000

and 8300ft. It is known from clays derived from the Chinle Formation in the Zuni and Chuska

Mountains, and to similar clays of the Baca Formation in the Datil and Sawtooth ranges in New Mexico.

General Distribution:

McKinley, San Juan and Catron counties, NM, and Apache Co., AZ.

Navajo Nation Distribution:

Slopes of the Chuska Mountains from Lukachukai and west of Red Valley,

Apache Co., AZ south to Navajo in McKinley County, NM.

Potential Navajo Nation Distribution:

Chuska Mountains and in suitable habitat in the pinion-juniper

associations between Lupton, Apache Co., AZ, and Prewitt, McKinley Co., NM.

Survey Period:

Best during the flowering period between May and June, but can be identified by an

experienced individual through July, possibly August. Suitable habitat can be identified year round.

Avoidance:

A 200 ft buffer zone is recommended to avoid disturbance; may be more or less, depending

on slope, size and nature of the project.

References:

Arizona Rare Plant Committee. 2001. Arizona rare plant field guide: a collaboration of agencies and

organizations. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. http://aznps.org/rareplants.html

Christy, K. 2004. Erigeron rhizomatus – Survey and Status Report. Unpublished report prepared for the

Navajo Nation. http://nnhp.nndfw.org/docs_reps.htm

Cronquist, A. 1974. A revision of the North American species of Erigeron north of Mexico. Brittonia

6:121-300.

New Mexico Native plants Protection Advisory Committee. 1984. A handbook of rare and endemic

plants of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM.

New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council. 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM. New

Mexico Rare Plants Homepage.

http://nmrareplants.unm.edu

USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1995. The Farmington District Endangered, Threatened, and

Sensitive Plant Field Guide. Prepared by Ecosphere Environmental Services, Inc., Farmington,

NM.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 1988. Zuni fleabane (Erigeron rhizomatus) recovery plan. U.S. Fish &

Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, Albuquerque, NM.