[Asters: The Genera Canadanthus, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Oreostemma and Symphyotrichum Found East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]


Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Aster

Symphyotrichum frondosum

Synonyms: Aster frondosus, Brachyactis frondosa

Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Aster: Symphyotrichum frondosum (Synonyms: Aster frondosus, Brachyactis frondosa)

The photo above shows one of the prostrate stems and several dime-sized flower heads of alkali aster as seen at The Dalles Riverside Park, September 15, 2001.

Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Aster: Symphyotrichum frondosum (Synonyms: Aster frondosus, Brachyactis frondosa)The photo at right shows the leaf bracts subtending the flower head of alkali aster, The Dalles Riverside Park, September 15, 2001.
Characteristics:

Alkali aster is the only annual aster in the Columbia River Gorge. It may be much branched in form and grows from 5-140 cm high. The herbage generally lacks glands or hairs, although the leaf margins may be lined with very small hairs. The leaves are linear to oblanceolate, growing up to 6 cm long and 1 cm wide. The leaves tend to be fleshy in cross section with the lower leaves with short petioles and the mid and upper leaves sessile or subpetiolate.

The several to numerous flower heads are arranged in an open panicle or a terminal spike. The small flower heads have an involucre 5-9 mm high with leafy bracts. The pinkish rays are very short and narrow. They are rarely longer than 2 mm long.


Habitat:

Alkali aster is a wildflower of streambanks, pond and lake margins, and seasonally moist, alkali depressions.


Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Alkali Aster, Short-rayed Aster: Symphyotrichum frondosum (Synonyms: Aster frondosus, Brachyactis frondosa)


Range:

Alkali aster is found from central Washington south through Oregon (east of the Cascade crest) to California, and eastward through southern Idaho to Idaho and Wyoming.


Paul Slichter