Family - Asteraceae

Stems - No info. yet.

Upper stem.

Lower stem.

Leaves - No info. yet.

Inflorescence - No info. yet.

Involucre -No info. yet.

Involucre.

Ray flowers - No info. yet.

Disk flowers - No info. yet.

Flowering - July - November.

Habitat - Limestone glades, bluff escarpments, rocky prairies, open slopes. Also cultivated.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This striking species can be found throughout much of Missouri but is absent from the north-central portion of the state. The plant is one of the easier Aster species to identify. The plant typically emits a pleasant odor when crushed or bruised. The glandular involucres and densely leafy stems are good characters for identification also. The ray flowers can be bluish, as in the pictures above, or more of a pink or wine color. This is a common species on glades in the Ozarks.
Cultivated plants of this species get quite large and have very dense flowers. It is a good species because it is very drought tolerant.

Photographs taken in Eminence, MO., 10-12-03, and at Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, KS., 9-23-06.