Asteraceae
Daisy Family
Aster laevis L.
- Stem: perennial; 2’ to 2 1/2’ tall; unbranched below the inflorescence; smooth.
- Leaves: alternate; oval with clasping, heart-shaped bases and long-tapering tips; variable in size, 3” by 3/4” and smaller; sometimes toothed; smooth above and below.
- Inflorescence: few heads on branched stalks.
- Heads: blue rays with yellow disk flowers; about 1” across; fillaries with a dark green diamond at the tip; flowering from late August to late September.
- Fruits: “seeds” (fruits) 1/16” long with 3/16” plumes of hairs at one end; fruiting begins in mid-September.
- Habitat: frequent on dry to moist prairies; also found in open woods.
- Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
- Vascular Plants of Iowa
Can be found in these counties:
