Search / Plant Profile / Erigeron kachinensis

Plant Profile

Kachina Daisy (Erigeron kachinensis)

Flowering specimen. Note the decumbent to erect stems and spatulate leaves Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: CO, UT
Nature Serve ID: 152781
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/25/1988

Description:

Erigeron kachinensis was first found in the seeps in the Cedar Mesa sandstone near Kachina Natural Bridge in Natural Bridges Monument, Utah. It was first discovered in Colorado in 1977 within the Dolores River Canyon. Only two populations are currently known in the state. It will grow only where there is an adequate amount of moisture and sunlight (Allphin and Harper 1994). When direct moisture is lacking, the plant will send out long roots to gather moisture from deep within the rock wall cracks. Since this species is found high on sheer rock faces, it poses many problems for study (Allphin 1991). Kachina Daisy forms what appears to be hanging gardens. When the plant takes hold in a crack on a rock face, soil begins to collect as water flows through the rock. Matter that erodes from the back of the seep forms a small cave and the soil mass begins to slip forward causing some of the plants to hang over the edge. Eventually the whole mass falls into the canyon and the process begins again. (Colorado Native Plant Society 1997) This sprawling plant will send up stems up to 2 dm in length, each with a single flower head. The ray flowers are white or pink with yellow cone flowers and the inner and some outer bracts are purplish at the tips. Glabrous leaves separate this species from the most closely related species, E. subglaber. This plant is unusual for plants in the temperate zone, as it often flowers twice each year--one in the spring and then again in the late summer. (Atwood et al. 1991 and VonBargen 1997)

Where is Kachina Daisy (Erigeron kachinensis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Kachina Daisy is found in wet, seasonally flooded sites and in shallow caves of red sandstone cliffs. One population grows in hanging gardens in crevices of west and north facing cliffs. The second population is found on exposed, saline soil at a higher elevation. The elevation range is 4800-8400 ft. (Spackman 1997).Found among: Aquilegia micrantha (Mancos columbine, Ranuculaceae), Calamagrostis scopulorum (Poaceae), Zigadenus vaginatus (death camus, Liliaceae) , and Cirsium calcareum (Cainville Thistle, Asteraceae). (Allphin 1991, 1997).

Distribution:

San Juan County in Utah and Montrose County in Colorado. (Allphin 1991, 1997).

States & Provinces:

Kachina Daisy can be found in Colorado, Utah

Which CPC Partners conserve Kachina Daisy (Erigeron kachinensis)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Conservation Actions

09/09/2020

Loreen Allphin Woolstenhulme, from Brigham Young University, is currently working on the demography and population genetics of this species using microsatellites (Allphin 1991, Allphin and Harper 1994, 1996, 1997, Woolstenhulme 1996).

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

A Colorado Plateau endemic. Known from southeastern Utah and from three occurrences in adjacent Colorado. Threats include tourism, recreation, and drought.

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

Threats include disturbance from climbers on ledges where plants occur, grazing, construction and road maintenance through habitat (Allphin 1991).

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

Two populations found in hanging garden communities in the Colorado Plateau region of southeastern Utah and two more populations in hanging gardens along the Dolores River in Colorado (Allphin 1991).

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

General botanic surveys and attempts at habitat delineation have been undertaken. Loreen Allphin Woolstenhulme, from Brigham Young University, is currently working on the demography and population genetics of this species using microsatellites (Allphin 1991, Allphin and Harper 1994, 1996, 1997, Woolstenhulme 1996).

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

There is no formal management plan.

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

More thorough and complete surveying of populations, as well as potential habitat.

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

Seed collection and banking