Burke: Symphyotrichum subulatum vs. Symphyotrichum chilense

	Symphyotrichum subulatum	Symphyotrichum chilense
		common California aster, Pacific aster
Habit		Fibrous-rooted perennial from a rhizome or branched base, the stems 2-10 dm. tall, pubescent at least above.
Leaves		Lower leaves oblanceolate, petiolate, entire, pubescent, early-deciduous; middle and upper leaves linear to obovate or oval, sessile, entire, usually pubescent, 2-10 cm. long and 2-20 mm. wide.
Flowers		Heads few to many in an open inflorescence, with a few erect, pointed, linear bracts below the heads; involucre 5-7 mm. high, the bracts imbricate, papery below and green above, the outer rounded, the inner pointed; disk flowers numerous, yellow; ray flowers 15-40, pistillate, blue or pinkish, 7-15 mm. long; pappus of numerous capillary bristles.
Fruits		Fruit an achene.

	Symphyotrichum subulatum	Symphyotrichum chilense
Flowering time		July-October
Habitat		Coastal, bluffs, grasslands, open slopes, salt marsh margins, and disturbed ground.
Distribution	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]	Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California. [WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Origin		Native
Conservation status		Not of concern
Sibling taxa	S. ×amethystinum, S. ascendens, S. boreale, S. bracteolatum, S. campestre, S. chilense, S. ciliatum, S. ×columbianum, S. ericoides, S. foliaceum, S. frondosum, S. hallii, S. jessicae, S. laeve, S. lanceolatum, S. novae-angliae, S. pilosum, S. spathulatum, S. subspicatum	S. ×amethystinum, S. ascendens, S. boreale, S. bracteolatum, S. campestre, S. ciliatum, S. ×columbianum, S. ericoides, S. foliaceum, S. frondosum, S. hallii, S. jessicae, S. laeve, S. lanceolatum, S. novae-angliae, S. pilosum, S. spathulatum, S. subspicatum
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 chilense

common California aster, Pacific aster

Habit

Fibrous-rooted perennial from a rhizome or branched base, the stems 2-10 dm. tall, pubescent at least above.

Leaves

Lower leaves oblanceolate, petiolate, entire, pubescent, early-deciduous; middle and upper leaves linear to obovate or oval, sessile, entire, usually pubescent, 2-10 cm. long and 2-20 mm. wide.

Flowers

Heads few to many in an open inflorescence, with a few erect, pointed, linear bracts below the heads;

involucre 5-7 mm. high, the bracts imbricate, papery below and green above, the outer rounded, the inner pointed;

disk flowers numerous, yellow;

ray flowers 15-40, pistillate, blue or pinkish, 7-15 mm. long;

pappus of numerous capillary bristles.

Fruits

Fruit an achene.