Click to read about the Erigeron genus.

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows.  Summer.
American Basin, July 24, 2007 and Highland Mary Lakes Trail, July 21, 2010.

This is a fairly common Erigeron on rocky tundra.  It grows to just five inches tall yet has flower heads an inch across so it easily attracts your attention.  Look for it above tree-line on rocky outcrops.  The finely cut leaves and large flower heads are hallmarks.  It is found throughout the Colorado Rockies, in three northern counties in New Mexico, and is rare in just two southern counties in Wyoming. 

The plant was most likely first collected on the Wheeler Exploring Expedition of 1873-1875 by Franz Wolf and Dr. Joseph Rothrock.  In 1880 Asa Gray named this plant Erigeron compositus variety pinnatisectus.  In 1899 Aven Nelson renamed it Erigeron pinnatisectus. Latin gives us "pinnatisectus" for "feathered" or "cut like a feather", referring to its deeply cut leaves.

Subalpine, alpine.  Meadows.  Summer.
American Basin, July 24, 2007.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Erigeron pinnatisectus