W34 



THICKSTEM ASTER 



As'ter integrifo'lius, syn. A. amplexifo'lius 



I'lower heads daisylike, about % in. high, on 

 short, sticky-hairy stalks, few to many in a 

 rather narrow cluster (raceme or panicle) along 

 upper part of stem 



Center (disk) flowers of heads- 

 tubular 



small, yellow, 



Outer (ray) flowers of heads deep bluish pur- 

 ple, about 15 to 25, strap-shaped, about % to 

 % in. long 



Bracts in a several-rowed series (involucre) 

 around base of head, narrow, tapering to tip, 

 usually purple-tinged, sticky-hairy ; outer bracts 

 nearly as long as inner 



"Seed" (achene) somewhat flattened-spindle- 

 shaped, crowned with numerous, slender, tawny 

 bristles (pappus) 



Leaves alternate, with entire, wavy, or finely 

 toothed margins, thinnish, white-hairy becom- 

 ing hairless; lower leaves large, up to 7 in. long, 

 comparatively narrow, tapering to a winged 

 stalk; upper leaves oblong to spatula- or lance- 

 shaped, stalkless and with somewhat clasping 

 bases 



Stems solitary to more or less tufted, rather 

 stout, up to 20 in. high, rarely branched at top, 

 often reddish, hairless to long-soft-hairy below 

 and glandular above 



Roots numerous, from thick, creeping, peren- 

 nial rootstocks 



