Search / Plant Profile / Erigeron basalticus

Plant Profile

Basalt Daisy (Erigeron basalticus)

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: WA
Nature Serve ID: 156390
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 09/01/2001

Description:

These daisy-like flowers live exclusively in cracks and crevices in basalt cliffs in the state of Washington. Erigeron basalticus has several stems that originate in a taproot. Stems are generally 4-6 in length and leafy especially toward the tips. The majority of the leaves are tri-lobed at the tip, one inch in length and are shaped like a wedge in outline. The flowers range from white to lilac with small yellow centers and the herbage of the plant is covered with stiff, spreading hairs. (NatureServe 2003; WA NH; Hitchcock, et al, 1955: PLANTS 2000; ITIS 2002)

Where is Basalt Daisy (Erigeron basalticus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Cracks and Crevices in basalt cliffs, in elevations ranging from 1250 to 1500 feet (NatureServe 2003, WANHP Selected Rare Vascular Plants of Washington

Distribution:

Erigeron basalticus is located in Yakima and Kittitas counties in Washington in an area about 10 x 2 miles wide on basalt cliffs. (NatureServe 2003; WA DNR; PLANTS)

States & Provinces:

Basalt Daisy can be found in Washington

Which CPC Partners conserve Basalt Daisy (Erigeron basalticus)?

University Of Washington Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program

Not Sponsored

Assigned 08/06/19

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

A very narrow Washington state endemic with six known occurrences, all within a 17 x 4.5 km area. The total number of individuals is estimated at 13,805. No imminent threats are known, but past road and railroad construction negatively impacted portions of the species' habitat and some basalt quarry activity has occurred in the general area.

01/01/2010

Railroad and highways pass through basalt daisy habitat, on going maintenance could impact the ERBA. Basalt mining Dam expansion Over spray of chemicals from neighboring agricultural areas. (NatureServe 2003) Possibility of invasion by non-nati

01/01/2010

There are 8 occurrences in Washington within a space of 10 x 2 miles with a total of 7500-8000 individuals. The populations occur in Kittitas and Yakima counties. (NatureServe 2003, WA NHP 2000;)

01/01/2010

Germination testing at Berry Botanic Garden (NatureServe 2003) Everett et al. (1991) began a study using Erigeron basalticus as one of two rare cliff-dwelling plants to assess climatic change. Results of their work to-date have apparently not been published (NatureServe 2003) Robson et al. (1994) compared variation in reproductive structures between rare and common species of Erigeron occurring within the arid region of eastern Washington (NatureServe 2003)

01/01/2010

Ensuring the physical integrity of the basalt cliffs. Ensuring that the individual populations are viable. (NatureServe 2003, WANHP)

01/01/2010

There is currently no management plan. The Washington Department of Natural Resources currently has a plan to maintain habitat and to monitor the Erigeron basalticus on WA DNR property. Reproduction requirements need to be explored. (NatureServe 2003, WA NHP, USFWS database)

01/01/2010

Seeds were banked in the Miller Seed Vault at the Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle WA in the summer of 2003. Additional ex situ resources are needed to ensure conservation of the species.