Separating species of Erigeron from Aster can be frustrating, but generally many fleabanes flower earlier in the summer season than Asters. Also the ray flowers of Erigeron are more numerous and narrower. Showy Fleabane stems may be up to 25 inches and may bear nearly a dozen flower heads, each with from 70 to 140 slender whitish to bluish ray flowers. The tubular disk flowers are yellow-orange. The plant can be found in dry to moist soil in open, wooded areas. {Plants of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks by Richard J. Shaw pg 138}

Yellowstone Wildflowers link (this is an Adobe pdf file).

by John William Uhler

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