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Narrow-leaf golden-aster

Heterotheca stenophylla (A. Gray) Shinners

[=Chrysopsis villosa (Pursh) Nutt. var. angustifolia (Rydb.) Cronquist ]

[=Chrysopsis stenophylla (A. Gray) Shinners ]

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Narrow-leaf golden-aster phyllaries
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster inflorescence
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster habit
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster heads
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster
Narrow-leaf golden-aster leaves
Narrow-leaf golden-aster

Morphology

Stem
1-50, ascending to erect, simple or branched above, sparsely to densely hispid and strigose, sometimes stipitate-glandular.
Leaves
Alternate, simple, congested, basal and cauline, basal usually withering early, upper cauline leaves strongly ascending to spreading; petiole present on lower leaves, absent on upper leaves; blade narrowly oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, .6 to 1.8 inches long, 1/12 to 1/3 inch wide, base wedge-shaped to tapered, margins entire, tip acute, surfaces hispid to strigose, usually eglandular, sometimes sparsely stipitate-glandular.
Inflorescence
Heads 1-15(-30), radiate, solitary or in corymb-like cymes; peduncles 1/12 to 2/5 inch; leaf-like peduncle bracts often subtending heads; involucres turbinate to hemispheric, 1/5 to 2/5 inch; phyllaries in 4-6 series, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, apex erect, sparsely strigose, glandular viscid.
Flower
Ray florets 15-30, pistillate, usually fertile; corolla yellow, ligule 1/8 to 3/5 inch. Disk florets 12-70, bisexual, fertile; corolla yellow, tubular, 1/8 to 2/5 inch, 5-lobed.
Fruit
Achenes obconic, 1/16 to 1/8 inch, compressed, strigose; pappus in 3-4 series, outer scales 3-40, white, less than 1/50 inch, inner barbellate bristles 25-40, tawny or rusty brown, 1/6 to 1/3 inch.

Ecology

Habitat
Rocky, gravelly, or sandy mixed-grass and sand prairies
Distribution
Principally west 2/3 of Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

Heterotheca, different and case, alluding to the ray achenes being thickened and the disk achenes flattened and stenophylla, narrow and leaf. Two varieties occur in Kansas. Var. angustifolia has leaves pale green, hairs rarely pustulate-based, glands absent or few, and phyllaries usually moderately strigose and eglandular. Var. stenophylla has leaves dark to bright green, hairs often pustulate-based, glands numerous, and phyllaries sparsely strigose and glandular.

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.

Scientific Name: Chrysopsis villosa

Full Citation: Chrysopsis villosa (DC.) ex Nutt.


Subspecies/Varieties:

  • var. angustifolia Cronquist

Scientific Name: Chrysopsis stenophylla

Full Citation: Chrysopsis stenophylla Shinners

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
8-16 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2014-05-24
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: June, July, August