|
Aster subulatus |
Eastern annual
saltmarsh aster
|
|
| State Status * | CT | MA | RI | VT | NH | ME |
| P | P | P | P | S1 |
|
|
| Ecology: | Saltmarshes and shores of tidal rivers, often on somewhat higher terrain. Periodically flooded. This is an annual species! |
| Blooming Period: | Late August through September |
| Typical Height Range: | 6 inches to 3 feet ( 1 to 10 dm ) |
| . | |
| What to look for in the field: | |
 Capitulescence
is in the shape of a panicle, much branched. Branches
are glabrous.
Heads
are numerous, not in one-sided arrays. |
|
| Stems
are glabrous and fleshy (succulent), slightly bent at the nodes, often tinged with
purple. |
|
| Basal
and lowest stem leaves are usually deciduous by flowering. Mid- to
upper stem leaves are narrowly lanceolate to
awl-shaped,
glabrous and
fleshy, slightly clasping the stem, gradually becoming shorter
upwards. Branch leaves are similar, but much smaller. |
|
| Involucres
are narrow, much taller than broad. Phyllaries are glabrous and
narrowly lanceolate or awl-shaped, tapering to long, slender tips which
are often tinged purple. Green patches are long and narrow.
Rays are very short, almost inconspicuous, pale blue-violet to nearly
white. Disc florets are yellow.
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. |
10/29/2009
