Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum

(Western Mountain Aster)

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, County Line Trail, Grand Mesa NF, Delta Co. 0737

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, Gore Pass, Grand Co. 1849

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, Gore Pass, Grand Co. 1858

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, Gore Pass, Grand Co. 1867

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, County Line Trail, Grand Mesa NF, Delta Co. 0741

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, Gore Pass, Grand Co. 1853

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, County Line Trail, Grand Mesa NF, Delta Co. 0743

_DSC1056%20copy

Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum, County Line Trail, Grand Mesa NF, Delta Co. 0745

Scientific Name Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum (Aster spathulatus) USDA PLANTS Symbol SYSPS
Common Name Western Mountain Aster ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 566344
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (6000 to 10500 ft.); moist areas along streams and in meadows and forest openings.
Plant: Erect perennial 8 to 24 inches tall with one to several stems that are smooth or sparsely covered with downy hairs, especially below the inflorescence.
Leaves: Lower stem leaves narrowly oblanceolate to lanceolate to elliptic, up to 6 inches long, smooth surfaces with hairs along edges; shorter upper stem leaves narrowly-elliptic, lanceolate or linear and sessile.
Inflorescence: Three to 10 composite flower heads in rounded cluster (cymose panicle), each 1 to 1-1/2 inches across with 15 to 50 rays, normally purple, violet or bluish; 30 to 80 yellow disk florets; phyllaries in 3–5 series, narrowly oblong or linear and unequal in length, surfaces smooth or somewhat downy-hairy.
Bloom period: July to October.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Aster spathulatus in "The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains" by Richard W. Scott, American Southwest, SW Colorado Wildflowers, and Flora of North America
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains