Alpine Fleabane

T. W. Böcher et al. (1968) identified this as Erigeron uniflorus in the strict sense and treated E. uniflorus var. eriocephalus as the distinct species E. eriocephalus. A. Cronquist (1947) viewed E. alpiniformis as distinct from both E. eriocephalus and E. borealis (Vierhapper) Simmons. The taxonomy of those plants needs to be reviewed in detail.

Perennials 2–20 cm; rhizomatous, fibrous-rooted, rhizomes or caudices sometimes branched. Stems erect, moderately villoso-hirsute (hairs sometimes retrorse), eglandular. Leaves basal (persistent) and cauline; basal blades oblanceolate to spatulate or subspatulate, 20–50(–80) × 4–10 mm, margins entire, (apices rounded) faces moderately villoso-hirsute, eglandular; cauline broadly linear to narrowly lanceolate-oblong, gradually reduced distally. Heads 1(–2, very rarely –4). Involucres 6–8 × 12–20 mm. Phyllaries in 2–3 series (somewhat foliaceous, usually green, faces sometimes purplish throughout or at tips), villous (usually mostly on proximal ¹ / 2 , hairs rigid, usually oriented in single direction, cross walls sometimes colored), eglandular. Ray florets 100–200; corollas white to pink-purple, 4–6 mm, laminae erect (filiform, 0.3–1 mm wide), not coiling or reflexing. Disc corollas 3.7–4.7 mm. Cypselae 1.5 mm (immature), 2-nerved, faces sparsely strigose; pappi: outer of setae, inner of 20–30 (non-accrescent) bristles. 2n = 18.

Erigeron alpiniformis is a rare Arctic species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, and one of several plants known by the common name alpine fleabane. It has been found only in Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat, part of Denmark) and in Labrador and Nunavut in Canada.

Erigeron alpiniformis is a short, branching shrub rarely more than 20 cm (8 inches) tall. The inflorescence generally consists of 1 or 2, rarely 3 or 4 flower heads, each head with many small yellow disc florets and surrounded by a ring of 100–200 white or pinkish-purple ray florets.