OregonFlora: Symphyotrichum subulatum vs. Symphyotrichum frondosum

	Symphyotrichum subulatum	Symphyotrichum frondosum
		alkali aster, short-rayed aster
Habit		Plants annual, 1–6 dm; taprooted.
Stems		decumbent to erect; surfaces glabrous.
Leaves		margins entire to serrulate; tips acute to obtuse; surfaces glabrous; basal withering by flowering, oblanceolate to spatulate, 2–12 cm, petiolate; cauline lower withering by flowering, linear to oblanceolate, 1–8 cm, sessile.
Inflorescences		narrow; ± crowded; panicle-like arrays.
Involucres		5–9 mm.
Ray florets		90–110; rays 1–2 mm, barely exceeding the disc florets; pinkish white to purplish white.
Phyllaries		in 3–4 subequal to unequal series; ± spreading, oblong to oblanceolate or obovate, bases scarious-margined; tips green; surfaces glabrous.
Fruits		strigillose; pappus bristles 6–7.5 mm, white to yellowish.
Heads		numerous.
2n		=14.

	Symphyotrichum subulatum	Symphyotrichum frondosum
Distribution	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion		Marshes, lake edges. Flowering Jun–Oct. 50–1600 m. BR, BW, Col, ECas, Lava, Owy. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to British Columbia, northeast to Alberta, east to WY, southeast to NM. Native.
Source		Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 357 Geraldine Allen
Sibling taxa	S. ascendens, S. bracteolatum, S. campestre, S. chilense, S. ciliatum, S. cusickii, S. cusickii x Symphyotrichum spathulatum, S. ericoides, S. foliaceum, S. frondosum, S. hallii, S. hendersonii, S. laeve, S. lanceolatum, S. novae-angliae, S. spathulatum, S. subspicatum	S. ascendens, S. bracteolatum, S. campestre, S. chilense, S. ciliatum, S. cusickii, S. cusickii x Symphyotrichum spathulatum, S. ericoides, S. foliaceum, S. hallii, S. hendersonii, S. laeve, S. lanceolatum, S. novae-angliae, S. spathulatum, S. subspicatum
Synonyms		Aster frondosus
Web links	Local floras: CA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search	Local floras: BC, CA, OR, WA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Symphyotrichum subulatum

Symphyotrichum frondosum

alkali aster, short-rayed aster

Habit

Plants annual, 1–6 dm; taprooted.

Stems

decumbent to erect;

surfaces glabrous.

Leaves

margins entire to serrulate;

tips acute to obtuse;

surfaces glabrous;

basal withering by flowering, oblanceolate to spatulate, 2–12 cm, petiolate;

cauline lower withering by flowering, linear to oblanceolate, 1–8 cm, sessile.

Inflorescences

narrow; ± crowded; panicle-like arrays.

Involucres

5–9 mm.

Ray florets

90–110;

rays 1–2 mm, barely exceeding the disc florets; pinkish white to purplish white.

Phyllaries

in 3–4 subequal to unequal series; ± spreading, oblong to oblanceolate or obovate, bases scarious-margined;

tips green;

surfaces glabrous.

Fruits

strigillose;

pappus bristles 6–7.5 mm, white to yellowish.

Heads

numerous.

=14.

Symphyotrichum subulatum

Symphyotrichum frondosum

Distribution

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Marshes, lake edges. Flowering Jun–Oct. 50–1600 m. BR, BW, Col, ECas, Lava, Owy. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to British Columbia, northeast to Alberta, east to WY, southeast to NM. Native.

Source

Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 357
Geraldine Allen

Sibling taxa