Eastern Showy Aster, Eastern Showy Wood-aster, Showy Aster, Western Showy Aster: Eurybia conspicua (Synonym: Aster conspicuus)

[Asters Found East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Eastern Showy Aster, Eastern Showy Wood-aster, Showy Aster, Western Showy Aster

Eurybia conspicua

Synonym: Aster conspicuus

The photo above shows showy aster from Swauk Campground, Wenatchee N.F............July 23, 2009.

Characteristics:

Showy aster is a stoloniferous aster, with solitary, stout stems arising from woody rootstock. Leaves are large, ovate, elliptic, or obovate, up to 17 cm in length, and up to 8 cm wide. The leaf margins are serrate. The flower heads are few to numerous (10-40), in a narrow, leafy inflorescence. The rays are violet or pale blue, the disc flowers yellow.

Habitat:

Showy aster is found in brush-filled openings in shady coniferous woods, at medium elevation in the mountains.

Range:

Showy aster is found from northeast Oregon, north to British Columbia, east to Saskatchewan and through central Idaho to northern Wyoming.

Stem Leaf of Eastern Showy Aster, Eastern Showy Wood-aster, Showy Aster, Western Showy Aster: Eurybia conspicua (Synonym: Aster conspicuus)

These 3 photos show close-ups of the flower heads and stem leaf of showy aster as seen from Swauk Campground, Wenatchee N.F............July 23, 2009. Click on each photo to view an enlarged version (2X).

Showy aster as seen along Canyon Mountain Road just downhill of the Malheur National Forest boundary............August 19, 2011.

- - Eurybia conspicua -

These 4 photos show showy aster from both the Bowman Trail and Chief Joseph Trail, Eagle Cap Wilderness..........July 27, 1997.

Paul Slichter