Symphyotrichum foliaceum, July 20, 2021
S. foliaceum, Grizzly ridge, 12,800’, July 22, 2021
Common & scientific name
Leafy aster, Symphyotrichum foliaceum (Aster foliaceus)
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
Lower Lost Man trailhead, 10,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
What an incredibly variable plant this late-summer aster is! Its wider “petals” (ray florets)and broader, layered, leaf-like phyllaries distinguish it from the earlier-blooming Erigerons. In subalpine and alpine meadows, it commonly grows just 6” high, with few flower heads, and is often a deep purple/lavender as shown at left. Roadside it grows up to 3’ high with many (lighter-colored) flowered heads and noticeably red stems (see below). And sometimes it’s in between (see bottom).
I just wish they had come up with a more memorable, or pronounceable, or spell-able, name to replace “Aster” with . . . .