Flora of North America species comparison

1–many, leafy, simple or with ascending branches.

cauline, usually more than 20, well distributed, proximal and mid with winged petioles to 6 cm, wings sometimes decurrent 1–2 cm on stems, blades lanceolate to triangular-ovate, 5–15 cm, bases cordate to truncate or tapering, margins sharply dentate, apices acute;

mid and distal usually sessile, smaller, narrower, bases tapering.

10–15 mm.

naked.

8–21;

corollas usually pale lavender-blue to dark purple (rarely white), 11–13 mm;

tubes 5–6.5 mm, throats 1.5–2 mm, lobes 3.5–4 mm.

in ca. 5 series, strongly unequal, outer ± ovate, inner lanceolate, abaxial faces pale green, distally dark purplish to nearly black, loosely tomentose.

5–30+ in tight to open corymbiform arrays; (peduncles 0–5 cm).

4–6 mm;

pappus bristles brownish, outer 3–7 mm, inner 9–10 mm.