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Drummond's aster

Habit Plants 40–120 cm.
Stems

sparsely (proximally) to densely hirsute distally.

Leaves

firm, basal and proximal long-petiolate, petioles ± winged;

proximal cauline blade bases ± cordate or truncate, sometimes obliquely.

Peduncles

± secund, 0–4 cm, bracteate.

Involucres

campanulate, (3.5–)4.5–7 mm.

Ray corollas

usually bright blue, light purple, bluish violet, or lavender, sometimes white.

Heads

in ample, paniculiform arrays with divaricate or ascending, bracteate, often racemiform branches.

Cypselae

glabrous.

2n

= 16, 32.

Symphyotrichum drummondii var. drummondii

Phenology Flowering Aug–Oct.
Habitat Mostly shaded, loamy or rocky, mesic to dry soils, open deciduous woods, clearings, thickets, stream banks and edges of swamps, sometimes roadsides or ditches
Elevation 10–500+ m (0–1600+ ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MD; MI; MN; MO; MS; NE; OH; OK; PA; TN; TX; WI; WV
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Variety drummondii is often confused with Symphyotrichum urophyllum, a usually white-rayed species with erect array branches. Hybridization has been reported with S. urophyllum, as well as with S. shortii or S. undulatum (the name Aster ×finkii Rydberg possibly applies to such hybrids).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 504.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Symphyotrichum > subg. Symphyotrichum > sect. Symphyotrichum > Symphyotrichum drummondii
Sibling taxa
S. drummondii var. texanum
Name authority unknown
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