|
Aster macrophyllus |
Big-leaved aster |
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| State Status * | CT | MA | RI | VT | NH | ME |
| P | P | SC ** | P | P | P |
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| Ecology: | Woods, open woods or clearings. |
| Blooming Period: | Late July through September |
| Typical Height Range: | 2 to 3 feet (6 to 9 dm) |
| . | |
| What to look for in the field: | |
Capitulescence is in the shape of a
corymb,
often flat-topped and few headed,
except in very robust plants. Heads are located at the ends of
branches. |
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|
Stems are stout, either straight or bent at the
nodes, and pubescent. They are also
glandular
above, within the capitulescence. |
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|
Basal leaves are usually present during flowering, often
forming large
colonies. Basal and lowest stem leaves are large, broadly
heart-shaped, long-petiolate and toothed. Mid- to upper stem leaves
are ovate, becoming reduced in
size upwards, and have broad-winged
petioles. |
|
|
Heads are medium-sized, from 2.1 to 3.2 cm wide. Rays are commonly pale blue-violet, pink to nearly
white, infrequently a darker blue-violet. Disc florets
are bright yellow. Phyllaries are ovate, blunt-tipped, and densely glandular.
Peduncles and branches are also glandular.
View image of involucre and phyllaries. |
|
| . | |
| * State status data
obtained from the NatureServe
website and from published state natural heritage data. Click link for a
list of state status
codes.
** The NatureServe status for this species differs from that shown in the September 2007 rare plant document on the Rhode Island Natural Heritage website. Apparently, this species was downgraded from "critically imperiled" to "special concern". We indicate here the latest status shown in the state Heritage document. |
10/29/2009
