Symphyotrichum campestre
Encyclopedia
Symphyotrichum campestre (formerly Aster campestris) is a species of aster
known by the common name western meadow aster. It is native to much of western North America from British Columbia
, California
, and the Rocky Mountains
region, to Arizona
and New Mexico
., where it grows in many habitat types, generally at some elevation.
. The thin brown stems are covered in rough hairs and resin glands. The leaves are a few centimeters long, linear to oval in shape, and often hairy. The glandular inflorescence
holds several flower heads
containing many violet ray florets around a center of long yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene
.
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 name western meadow aster. It is native to much of 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...
, 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...
, and the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
region, 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...
., where it grows in many habitat types, generally at some elevation.
Description
It is a perennial herb growing to a maximum height near half a meter from a long rhizomeRhizome
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...
. The thin brown stems are covered in rough hairs and resin glands. The leaves are a few centimeters long, linear to oval in shape, and often hairy. The glandular 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...
holds several flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
containing many violet ray florets around a center of long yellow 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...
.