Plant Image
Flower head


Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Symphyotrichum divaricatum - southern saltmarsh aster

Synonyms: Aster divaricatus, Aster exilis, Aster neomexicanus, Aster subulatus and more, see SEINET
Other Common Names: southern annual saltmarsh aster, slender aster, panicled aster
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Asteraceae


   
 
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Flower stalk
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Plant
Desert Botanical Gardens Herbarium Collection, Usage rights: Attribution-Non-Commercial(CC BY-NC)
Bracts
Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native   Life Cycle: Biennial or annual   Similar Species: A. arenosus
General Desc: Usually simple stems, sometimes branched above the middle; may have long rhizomes; ray flowers pinkish-purple or blue, disc flowers yellow; herbage slightly hairy to no hairs.
Identification notes: Annuals or biennials, stems spreading, at least above the middle; ray flowers pinkish-purple or blue, 16 to 30 sometimes 54, narrow; phyllaries (bracts at base of flower head) unequal, 25 to 45 in 3 to 5 series, often purple tinged.
Height: 6 to 20 inches or more


Habitat

Habitat Description: Marshy habitats, roadsides, lawns, waste places.
Plant Communities: Riparian, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 3000 - 4000 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: Pinkish purple, blue     Shape: Daisy or dandelion-like in elongated clusters     Tubular: N     Flowering Period: Jul - Sep
Description: Heads of ray and disc flowers in clusters of 1 to many; ray flowers pinkish-purple or blue; disc flowers yellow, numbering 30 to 50; bracts (phyllaries) 25 to 45 in 3 to 5 series and commonly with thin transparent margins.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green     Leaf Type: Simple     Leaf Shape: Narrow     Leaf Margin: Toothed     Leaf Attachment: Alternate     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Stems     Spines: N
Leaf Description: Narrow basal leaves, sparsely hairy, leaves to 4 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, margins smooth or somewhat toothed; leaves slightly stemmed or sessile; leaf stems if present are winged.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Light brown to purple   
Fruit Type: Achene
Fruit Notes: Narrowly oval to spindle shaped, slightly compressed, up to 1/8 inch long, with a single seed. 5-ridged (nerved) with sparsely stiff hairs on faces. Topped with sub-equal fine bristles.


  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php  
Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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