Machaeranthera canescens
is a common purple daisy on the plains and western slope. This species is especially
visible in the early fall along roadsides.
Compare to Machaeranthera bigelovii,
which grows from foothills to subalpine elevations. M. bigelovii has
strongly glandular bracts below the flower heads, while M. canescens
is sparsely glandular or lacking glands. The two species are believed to hybridize.
