[Asters: The Genera Canadanthus, Eurybia, Eucephalus, Symphyotrichum in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon and Washington]

Klickitat Aster

Eucephalus glaucescens

Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens

Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)

Klickitat aster as seen along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about one mile west of Big Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest........September 4, 2016.

Involucral bracts of Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)Photo at right of the involucre of Klickitat aster from the eastern edge of the Big Lava Bed south of South Prairie, Gifford Pinchot N.F..........late August, 2001.
Characteristics:

Klickitat aster is a pretty aster with erect, often solitary stems arising from 40-150 cm high. The stems and leaves lack hairs or glands and tend to be a glaucous blue-green color. The lowest leaves are very reduced in size while the leaves of mid- to upper stem are either linear in shape and sessile or narrowly lance-elliptic in shape with very short petioles. They range from 3.5-9 cm long and 4-15 mm wide with mostly entire margins. The leaves tend to be 5-12 times longer than wide.

The flower heads are several to many with the individual involucres 7-9 mm high. The bracts are narrow, pointed and have a strong midvein which is somewhat keeled. The bracts are greenish at the tips or the margins have a narrow band of purplish coloration. The 8-13 rays are 12-20 mm long and a light purple color.


Habitat:

Klickitat aster is a wildflower of open woods and slopes.

Range:

Aster glaucescens is found in Washington state from Mt. Adams south to the Columbia River

In the Columbia River gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 600'-4000' between the Wind and White Salmon Rivers.


Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens) - Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)

Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens) - Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)

Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens) - Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)

Klickitat aster observed fading out of bloom atop Little Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.......September 11, 2021.

Leafy stems of Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens) - Leafy stems of Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)

Klickitat aster observed along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about one-third of a mile west of Big Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest......June 23, 2024.

Stem leaves of Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)

Glaucous blue-green leaves of Klickitat aster..........late August, 2001.

Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens) - Flower head of Klickitat Aster: Eucephalus glaucescens (Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster glaucescens)
Klickitat aster from the eastern edge of the big lava bed south of South Prairie, Gifford Pinchot N.F.........late August, 2001.

Paul Slichter