Cronquist's fleabane facts for kids

Erigeron cronquistii is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the daisy family. People often call it Cronquist's fleabane. This plant is quite rare.

You can only find Cronquist's fleabane in a small area of North America. It grows in the Bear River Range mountains. This mountain range is in Cache County, which is in the northern part of Utah in the United States.

What is Cronquist's Fleabane?

Cronquist's fleabane is a very small plant. It is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows back each spring without needing to be replanted.

This tiny plant is usually less than 7 cm (about 2.8 inches) tall. It has a main root called a taproot, which grows straight down into the ground. Many shoots grow from this taproot, forming a thick clump of stems.

Its Flowers

Each stem of the plant usually has one or two flower heads. These flower heads look like a single flower, but they are actually made of many tiny flowers grouped together.

Each flower head has 10 to 25 white or pale pink ray florets. These are the petal-like parts around the edge. In the center, there are many small yellow disc florets. These are the tiny flowers that make up the center of the daisy-like head.

Where Does It Live?

Cronquist's fleabane likes to grow in tough places. You can find it on ledges and in cracks on cliff faces. It also grows in small pockets where rocks have worn away.

This plant prefers high places in the mountains. Its ability to grow in such rocky, high-altitude spots makes it quite unique.