Klickitat Aster
Eucephalus glaucescens
Synonyms: Aster engelmannii var. glaucescens, Aster 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.
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.
Klickitat aster is a wildflower of open woods and slopes.
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.
