Angiosperms: Dicotyledons

Asteraceae
Daisy Family

• Stem: perennial; 3’ to 4’ tall; unbranched; scattered stiff hairs on upper half of the stem.
• Leaves: alternate; linear, tapering to a pointed tip; lower leaves 12” by 1/2”, gradually decreasing in size above, to 1/2” by 1/16” just below the inflorescence; sessile; smooth above and below; upper leaves with tiny dots on the surface.
• Inflorescence: heads all sessile on the upper stem, crowded; usually 4” to 5” but up to 10” long.
• Heads: purple disk flowers (no ray flowers) with protruding styles; heads 1/2” long by 1/4” across; fillaries about 3/8” long, the outer (lower) bracts shorter than the inner (upper), with reflexed, abrupt tips with long points and purple margins; flowering from late July to late August.
• Fruits: “seeds” (fruits) 1/8” long, hairy; plumes 5/16” long; fruiting begins in early August.
• Habitat: frequent; mostly on moist prairies but also on drier prairies.
• Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Vascular Plants of Iowa