Species: Symphyotrichum frondosum
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Alkali Aster is an annual with solitary, branched stems which are 5-60 cm high and arise from a taproot. The alternate, linear leaves have entire margins and are up to 6 cm long. Lower leaves have petioles, but become sessile higher up. Foliage is glabrous. Flower heads are borne in open, branched inflorescences arising from the leaf axils. Each flower head has 2-3 series of green, overlapping, lance-shaped involucral bracts which are 5-9 mm long. There are yellow disk flowers and numerous pinkish, filiform rays, which are 2-4 mm long. Each achene has a pappus consisting of numerous soft bristles on top that are longer than the disk flowers.
Classification
Dicotyledoneae
Asterales
Asteraceae
Symphyotrichum
NatureServe
Classification
Ecology and Life History
Alkali Aster is an annual with solitary, branched stems which are 5-60 cm high and arise from a taproot. The alternate, linear leaves have entire margins and are up to 6 cm long. Lower leaves have petioles, but become sessile higher up. Foliage is glabrous. Flower heads are borne in open, branched inflorescences arising from the leaf axils. Each flower head has 2-3 series of green, overlapping, lance-shaped involucral bracts which are 5-9 mm long. There are yellow disk flowers and numerous pinkish, filiform rays, which are 2-4 mm long. Each achene has a pappus consisting of numerous soft bristles on top that are longer than the disk flowers.