Aster spectabilis

Rhizomatous; stems 1-9 dm, usually densely glandular, at least above, or occasionally merely spreading-villous; lvs basally disposed, firm, scabrous (especially above) or glabrous, entire or remotely and shallowly toothed, the lower ones with elliptic blade 2-15 cm נ8-40 mm tapering to the well developed petiole, those above more oblong, becoming sessile and somewhat reduced, well spaced; heads few to rather many in an open, corymbiform, sparsely leafy- bracteate infl; invol 8-16 mm, its bracts broad and firm, ±imbricate, with chartaceous base and loose or spreading green tip, densely glandular (at least the inner), the outer sometimes viscid-villous as well; rays 15-35, rich violet-purple, 1-2.5 cm; achenes short-hairy; 2n=72. Dry, sandy soil, often among pines; Mass. to S.C. and Ala., in our range near the coast.

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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