Blochman's Erigeron

Erigeron blochmaniae is recognized by its puberulous stems, relatively large heads, distinctive phyllaries, and glabrous cypselae.

Perennials, 4–8 cm, taprooted, caudices woody, branches ascending, sometimes rhizomelike. Stems ascending-erect, densely and closely puberulous to villosulous (hairs stiffly crisped, minute), eglandular. Leaves cauline; blades linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 15–30 × 1–3 mm, usually even-sized, margins entire, densely and closely puberulous to villosulous, eglandular. Heads 1 or 2–5 in loosely corymbiform arrays. Involucres 4.5–6 × 9–14 mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series (with broad, orange middle area and thick, white margins), densely canescent-hirsutulous (hairs crinkly), densely minutely glandular. Ray florets 45–72; corollas white to bluish, ca. 8–11 mm, laminae not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 4.6–5 mm (throats slightly indurate, not inflated). Cypselae 2.2–2.8 mm, 2-nerved, faces glabrous; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 21–36 bristles. 2n = 18.

Erigeron foliosus Nuttall var. blochmaniae (Greene) H. M. Hall

Erigeron blochmaniae is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names Blochman's erigeron and Blochman's leafy daisy.

Erigeron blochmaniae is endemic to California, where it is limited to the coastline of San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara Counties. It lives in sand dunes and coastal hillsides, habitat which is currently declining as it is claimed for development.

Erigeron blochmaniae is a perennial herb growing from a stout woody caudex or rhizome and reaching heights of 40 to 80 centimeters (16-32 inches). Its stem is lined with evenly spaced narrow straight leaves, each one to three centimeters (0.4-1.2 inches) long. Atop each hairy stem is an inflorescence, with flower heads each just over a centimeter (0.4 inches) wide bearing light blue, lavender, or white ray florets surrounding golden yellow or greenish disc florets.