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

Tufted White Prairie Aster, Manyflowered Aster

Symphyotrichum ericoides var. pansum

Synonyms: Aster ericoides, Aster ericoides ssp. pansus, Aster ericoides var. pansus, Aster falcatus, Aster falcatus var. crassulus, Aster pansus

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Tufted white prairie aster still in bloom in open ponderosa pine forest near the Knothead Trail in theLittle Spokane River Natural Area...........October 5, 2019.

Tufted White Prairie Aster, Heath-leaved Aster, Little Gray Aster, Manyflowered Aster, White Heath Aster: Symphyotrichum ericoides var. pansum (Synonyms: Aster ericoides, Aster ericoides ssp. pansus, Aster ericoides var. pansus, Aster falcatus, Aster falcatus var. crassulus, Aster pansus)

Characteristics:

Tufted white prairie aster is also known as manyflowered aster. It is a fibrous-rooted perennial with clustered stems rising from 30-200 cm high. The herbage is rough with spreading to appressed hairs. The numerous leaves are firm, mostly linear in shape and usually less than 7 cm long and 5 mm wide. See the photo of the upper leaf surface below.

The numerous flower heads are small, with the disk only 4-8 mm wide. The 15-30 rays are white, with each measuring from 3-8 mm long. The involucre measures 4-7 mm high with the bracts ranked, the outer firm with rounded to squared tips.

Habitat:

Tufted white prairie aster may be found in open, wet to dry places in the valleys and plains. It is often found along the drying margins of streams and ponds. It is tolerant of alkaline conditions.

Range:

Tufted white prairie aster is found from southern British Columbia and central and eastern Washington east to Montana and hence south to Utah, Colorado and Nebraska.

Flower head of Tufted White Prairie Aster, Heath-leaved Aster, Little Gray Aster, Manyflowered Aster, White Heath Aster: Symphyotrichum ericoides var. pansum (Synonyms: Aster ericoides, Aster ericoides ssp. pansus, Aster ericoides var. pansus, Aster falcatus, Aster falcatus var. crassulus, Aster pansus)

A lateral view of the flower head of tufted white prairie aster from the North Fork Sun River, Montana...........August 5, 2000. Note the spreading bracts.

Stem leaf of Tufted White Prairie Aster, Heath-leaved Aster, Little Gray Aster, Manyflowered Aster, White Heath Aster: Symphyotrichum ericoides var. pansum (Synonyms: Aster ericoides, Aster ericoides ssp. pansus, Aster ericoides var. pansus, Aster falcatus, Aster falcatus var. crassulus, Aster pansus)

Upper surface of a stem leaf of tufted white prairie aster from the North Fork of the Sun River, Montana.........August 5, 2001.

Paul Slichter