Search Field Guide
Advanced Search
MT Gov Logo
Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Lackschewitz' Fleabane - Erigeron lackschewitzii

Image Copyright and Usage Information
Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G3
State Rank: S3
(see State Rank Reason below)
State Threat Score: Unknown
CCVI: Highly Vulnerable
C-value:


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS: Sensitive - Known in Forests (BRT)
BLM:


 

External Links

State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Endemic to Montana and adjacent Alberta though the large majority of the species' range is in Montana. Though many of the individual occurrences are small in size, the species is distributed over a relatively wide area along the Rocky Mtn Front south to the Flint Creek Range. The high elevation habitat reduces the potential for detrimental impacts.
  •  Details on Status Ranking and Review
    Lackschewitz' Fleabane (Erigeron lackschewitzii) Conservation Status Review
    Review Date = 05/03/2013
    View State Conservation Rank Criteria
    Population Size

    Score1-2 - Small to Moderate. Population size is imprecisely known but is believed to be >2,000 individuals and <100,000 individuals.

    Range Extent

    Score2 - Regional or State Endemic or Small Montana Range: Generally restricted to an area <100,000 sq. miles (equivalent to 2/3 the size of Montana or less) or Montana contributes 50% or more of the species’ range or populations OR limited to 2-3 Sub-basins in Montana.

    Area of Occupancy

    Score1 - Moderate: Generally occurring in 11-25 Subwatersheds (6th Code HUC’s).

    Environmental Specificity

    Score1 - Moderate: Species is restricted to a specific habitat that is more widely distributed or to several restricted habitats and is typically dependent upon relatively unaltered, good-quality habitat (C Values of 5-7).

    Trends

    ScoreNA - Rank factor not assessed.

    CommentTrends unknown though populations are likely stable or experiencing only minor declines.

    Threats

    Score0-1 - Low to Medium.

    Intrinsic Vulnerability

    Score0-1 - Low to Moderate Vulnerability.

    Raw Conservation Status Score

    Score 5 to 8 total points scored out of a possible 16 (Rarity factors and threats only).

 
General Description
Lackschewitz' Fleabane is a taprooted perennial with a simple or sparingly-branched rootcrown and curved, unbranched stems that are 3-8 cm high. The basal leaves are 2-6 cm long and narrowly spoon-shaped with pointed tips. The 5-10 stem leaves are gradually reduced upwards. Foliage is sparsely to densely covered with long white hairs. The solitary flower heads are 10-15 mm wide, and the involucral bracts are green, 6-8 mm long, and densely covered with long, white hairs and sessile glands. The 30-70 blue rays are 8-11 mm long and notched at the tips. The yellow disk corollas are 3-5 mm long. There are 15-24 pappus bristles at the top of the achenes. (Montana Natural Heritage Program, 1999).

Phenology
Flowering in July-early August, fruiting late July.

Diagnostic Characteristics
This species is very easily confused with some forms of Erigeron ochroleucus variety scribneri as well as Erigeron grandiflorus.

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions

Native
 


Range Comments
Montana (Flathead, Lewis and Clark, Pondera, and Teton counties) and Alberta (Waterton Lakes National Park, Sofa Mountain).

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 83

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat
Open, gravelly, calcareous soil and talus on ridgetops in the alpine and subalpine zones.
Predicted Suitable Habitat Model

This species has a Predicted Suitable Habitat Model available.

To learn how these Models were created see mtnhp.org/models

Ecological Systems Associated with this Species

Ecology
POLLINATORS
The following animal species have been reported as pollinators of this plant species or its genus where their geographic ranges overlap: Bombus bifarius, Bombus centralis, Bombus fervidus, Bombus flavifrons, Bombus huntii, Bombus melanopygus, Bombus mixtus, Bombus rufocinctus, Bombus occidentalis, and Bombus insularis (Thorp et al. 1983, Wilson et al. 2010, Colla and Dumesh 2010, Koch et al. 2012).

Stewardship Responsibility

Based on the Montana Natural Heritage Program's latest predicted habitat suitability model

Total species' range in Montana 24,357 km2 (6% of Montana)
Area predicted to have
some level of suitable habitat		 4,430 km2 (1% of Montana)

Stewardship responsibility for the predicted area of suitable habitat can be broken down as follows

  Total Suitable Optimal Suitability Moderate Suitability Low Suitability
Federal 87% 5% 18% 64%
State 2% 2%
Local <1% <1%
Conservation Lands/Easements 1% <1% 1%
Private/Tribal/Unknown 11% <1% 1% 10%

See the Habitat Suitability for Biodiversity task in Map Viewer for a more detailed look at stewardship responsibilities within a variety of local jurisdictions.


Threats or Limiting Factors
STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Reported threats to Montana's populations of Lackschewitz' Fleabane are currently assigned as unknown (MTNHP Threat Assessment 2021). Populations along hiking trails are known to be at risk of some trampling by hikers, but related impacts to plants and populations are presumed to be negligible.

References
  •  Literature Cited Above
  •  Additional References
  •  Web Search Engines for Articles on "Lackschewitz' Fleabane"
Login
Citation for data on this website:
Lackschewitz' Fleabane — Erigeron lackschewitzii.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from