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Lackschewitz' Fleabane - Erigeron lackschewitzii
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Erigeron lackschewitzii is a regional endemic to the state of Montana and province of Alberta. The majority of populations occur in Montana. Inconsistent methods to estimate population counts and report distributions have been used, which makes it difficult to accurately assess population trends. Plants occur in remote habitats that are generally intact and in good condition. Climate change poses a potential risk to the state's populations. A significant portion of populations in Montana occur in drainages that have experienced severe to extreme drought conditions. Thus, Erigeron lackschewitzii appears to remain vulnerable and at moderate risk of extirpation in the state.
Surveys that bring forth current data on distributions, population counts, species' viability, habitat condition, and threats are greatly needed. Additional surveys into areas of potentially suitable habitat within the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and the mountains of the Rocky Mountain Front could result in finding 'new' populations.
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: 87
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
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.
Ecological Communities Associated with this Species
Alpine
Alpine - Sparse and Barren
Alpine - Vegetated
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
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 AboveLegend:
View Online Publication
Colla, S.R. and S. Dumesh. 2010. The bumble bees of southern Ontario: notes on natural history and distribution. Journal of the Entomological Society of Ontario 141:39-68.- Koch, J., J. Strange, and P. Williams. 2012. Bumble bees of the western United States. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service, Pollinator Partnership. 143 p.
- MTNHP Threat Assessment. 2021. State Threat Score Assignment and Assessment of Reported Threats from 2006 to 2021 for State-listed Vascular Plants. Botany Program, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana.
- Thorp, R.W., D.S. Horning, and L.L. Dunning. 1983. Bumble bees and cuckoo bumble bees of California (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Bulletin of the California Insect Survey 23:1-79.
- Wilson, J.S., L.E. Wilson, L.D. Loftis, and T. Griswold. 2010. The montane bee fauna of north central Washington, USA, with floral associations. Western North American Naturalist 70(2): 198-207.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Heidel, B.L. 1993. Report on the conservation status of Erigeron lackschewitzii, a candidate threatened species. Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 57 pp.
- Kerstetter, T. 1994. Interim report on the taxonomy of Erigeron lackschewitzii. Unpublished report to the Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 16 pp.
- Kerstetter, T.A. 1993. Preliminary report on taxonomy of Erigeron lackschewitzii. Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 12 pp.
- Kerstetter, T.A. 1994. Taxonomic investigation of Erigeron lackschewitzii. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 90 p.
- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Nesom, Guy L. 2004. Taxonomic Reevaluations in North American Erigeron (Asteraceae: Astereae). SIDA 21(1): 19–39.
- Nesom. GL and WA. Webe. 1983. A new woolly-headed, Monocephalous erigeron (Asteraceae) from Montana. Madrono 30:245-249
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Lackschewitz' Fleabane"
