Willowleaf aster

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Willowleaf aster leaves

Willowleaf aster inflorescence

Willowleaf aster leaves

Willowleaf aster

Willowleaf aster

Willowleaf aster

Willowleaf aster flowering heads

Willowleaf aster

Morphology

Stem

Erect to ascending, solitary, stout, nearly glabrous to pubescent, somewhat waxy or reddish, branching above.

Leaves

Alternate, thick, firm, sessile; lower leaves falling by flowering; stem leaves linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 1.6 to 6 inches long, to 3/5 inch wide; upper surface smooth to rough; lower surface mostly smooth, veins in prominent network of spaces of nearly equal dimensions; margins entire to weakly toothed, often rolled under; tips pointed; progressively reduced upward; upper stem leaves with axillary leaf clusters.

Inflorescence

Panicle-like clusters, open, leafy; branches ascending to spreading; heads numerous, 60-100+.

Flower

Heads 3/5 to 1 inch in diameter; involucre bell-shaped, to 1/3 inch tall; bracts unequal, overlapping in several series, tips often reddish-purple; ray florets 6-35, to 1/2 inch long, bluish or lavender, rarely white; disk florets 20-35, light yellow turning pinkish purple.

Fruit

Achenes, egg-shaped, less than 1/12 inch long, pubescent, brownish or purplish, tipped by numerous white hair-like bristles, enclosing small seed.

Ecology

Habitat

Wet low ground, moist meadows, prairie swales, stream and pond edges, open thickets, and roadsides; loamy soil.

Distribution

East 1/3 of Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

The Navajo used a cold infusion of the plant to treat stomacheaches and internal injuries and smoked the dried leaves to bring luck hunting.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.