Erigeron sionis explained

Erigeron sionis is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Zion fleabane. It has been found in the southwestern United States, only in southern Utah. Some of the populations are inside Zion National Park, after which the species is named.^{[1] [2]}

Erigeron sionis grows in shallow soil in open woodlands dominated by pine, juniper, Douglas fir, maple, and oak. It is a perennial, colony-forming herb up to 25 cm (10 inches) tall, spreading by means of stolons running along the surface of the ground. The inflorescence generally contains 1-4 flower heads. Each head contains 22–46 white ray florets surrounding many yellow disc florets.^{[3] [4]}

Varieties^[3]

• Erigeron sionis var. sionis
• Erigeron sionis var. trilobatus (Maguire ex Cronquist) S.L.Welsh

Notes and References

1. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Erigeron%20sionis.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
2. http://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/nature/upload/ZionPlants2009.indd.pdf Zion Plant List, United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service
3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250066679 Flora of North America, Erigeron sionis Cronquist, 1947. Zion fleabane
4. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2805837?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Nesom, Guy L. 1976. A new species of Erigeron (Asteraceae) and its relatives in southwestern Utah. Brittonia 28: 263-272