Similar to no. 50 [Aster spectabilis Aiton], but not glandular, or only slightly and inconspicuously so; rhizome sometimes with nodular-thickened, woody portions; stem spreading-hirtellous (or merely strigose below), often slightly viscidulous, but scarcely glandular, or sometimes slightly so on the peduncles; heads avg smaller, the invol 7-12 mm, its bracts avg narrower and blunter, only obscurely or not at all glandular, otherwise glabrous except for the often ciliolate margins; rays paler, more bluish. Various habitats, especially in sandy soil; Appalachian region from Ky. and Va. to Tenn., N.C., S.C., and Ga.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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