Symphyotrichum ascendens
Encyclopedia
Symphyotrichum ascendens (formerly Aster ascendens) is a species of aster
known by the common names western aster and longleaf aster. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to Saskatchewan
, the Sierra Nevada in California
, to Arizona
and New Mexico
. It grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas.
perennial herb growing a branching, erect stem to heights between 20 and 60 centimeters. Leaves are widely lance-shaped to oblong and pointed, the largest ones near the base of the stem reaching up to 15 centimeters long. The stem and leaves are roughly hairy in places.
The inflorescence
is an array of many flower heads
with many narrow violet to nearly white ray florets around a center of golden disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene
with a long pappus
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common names western aster and longleaf aster. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, the Sierra Nevada in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. It grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas.
Description
This is a rhizomatousRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial herb growing a branching, erect stem to heights between 20 and 60 centimeters. Leaves are widely lance-shaped to oblong and pointed, the largest ones near the base of the stem reaching up to 15 centimeters long. The stem and leaves are roughly hairy in places.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is an array of many flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
with many narrow violet to nearly white ray florets around a center of golden disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
with a long pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
.