Canadanthus modestus
formerly Aster modestus
Photo
at right of great northern aster from Multorpor Fen, Mt. Hood N.F..........August
11, 2001. Note the reddish, glandular stems which are bent at the nodes, giving
the stem a somewhat zig zag appearance.
The great northern aster is a pretty perennial wildflower with one to several erect stems from 30-100 cm high arising from creeping rhizomes. The herbage is glandular above on the leaves and stems and may have some hairs on the stems too. The lanceolate leaves are linear-lanceolate in shape with sessile bases which may be clasping and entire to slightly serrate margins. The leaves are thin in cross-section and range from 5-13 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. The lower leaves are often deciduous or withered by flowering time.
The one to many flower heads are arranged in a leafy short cyme. The heads are 2-3 cm wide with 20-45 purple to violet rays from 8-15 mm long surrounding a yellowish central disk. The involucre is glandular and measures from 7-11 mm high. The involucre consists of 2-3 rows of bracts with pointed tips. The bracts are often purplish in color and many may be somewhat leafy in appearance.
The great northern aster may be found in moist woodlands and mountain meadows, and is common along streams in such habitats.
Aster modestus is found from Alaska south to Washington and Oregon and eastward to Alberta, Montana, and Idaho. It is found further east in northern Minnesota and Ontario.
In the Columbia River gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4000' from east of Larch Mt. to near Mosier, OR.
