This is the 15th year of continuous daily publication for 365Caws. All things considered, it's likely it will be the last year as it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to find interesting material. However, I hope that I may have inspired someone to a greater curiosity about the natural world with my natural history posts, or encouraged a novice weaver or needleworker. If so, I've done what I set out to do.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Erigeron Acris
Day 322: Yeah, I know...it's another DPD (Damn Purple Daisy), but in defence of Erigeron acris, I will say that its scarcity and size make it special. The flowers are thumbnail-sized, pale lavender, borne singly on branching stems. The mature seed head is a ball of fluff destined for distribution by autumn winds, although the seeds must not travel very far from this site. When I first discovered the plant several years ago, there were only a few in evidence. Now there is a thriving population which covers at least 500 square feet, wiry stems rising above thin, dry soil in a rocky draw. That said, it is not a rare plant in the Pacific Northwest by any means, just unusual for this particular location. Although it may not be as showy as other larger composites, Erigeron acris is one of my favourite native "asters."
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