[Asters Found East of the Cascade Mts.]
Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster

Symphyotrichum ascendens

Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens

Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens)

Long-leaved aster as seen along Forest Service Road 1647 in southeastern Logan Valley, Malheur National Forest............... July 18, 2010.
Involucral bracts of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens)The photo at right shows long-leaved aster from Cabin Lake C.G., Deschutes N.F. ....9/28/96.
Characteristics:

Long-leaved aster is an open, branched perennial from a rhizome or branching caudex. It ranges in height from 20-100 cm. The stem leaves are very short and linear, close to the stem. The basal leaves are long and narrow. All leaves are are entire margined and smooth surfaced. The leaves range from 2-10 cm long and 2-20 mm wide.

The flower heads are small with conspicuous outer bracts reflexed outwards. The disk flowers are yellow and the 15-40 ray flowers are pink to lavender and range from 5-15 mm long. Long-leaved aster flowers from July to October.

Habitat:

Long-leaved aster is found from wet to dry habitats, from the lowlands to 3000 meters.

Range:

Long-leaved aster is found mostly east of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to southern California, east to southeast Washington, Saskatchewan, and New Mexico.

Close-up of the flower head of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens) - Close-up of the involucral bracts of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens)

Close-up photos of long-leaved aster as seen along Forest Service Road 1647 in southeastern Logan Valley, Malheur National Forest............... July 18, 2010.

Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens) - Close-up of the flower head of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens)

Close-up sideview of the involucral bracts and upper stem leaves of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens) - Stem leaves of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens)

Additional close-up photos of long-leaved aster as seen along Forest Service Road 16 in the Logan Valley, Malheur National Forest............... July 17, 2010.

Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens) - Basal leaves of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens) - Flower head of Long-leaved Aster, Western Aster: Symphyotrichum ascendens (Synonyms: Aster adscendens, Aster ascendens, Aster chilensis, Aster chilensis ssp. adscendens, Aster chilensis ssp. ascendens, Aster macounii, Aster subgriseus, Virgulaster ascendens)

Several views of long-leaved aster as seen from the Lost Forest, Lake County, OR and Cabin Lake Campground, Deschutes N.F..........Late June, 1995 and September 26, 1996.
Paul Slichter