Symphyotrichum laeve var. geyeri (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve (A. Gray) G.L. Nesom
smooth aster
Asteraceae (Aster family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #30148)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Symphyotrichum laeve var. geyeri
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a fibrous-rooted, usually short rhizome or woody stem-base; stems erect, branched above, glabrous or nearly so, 0.4-1.2 m tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves stalked and soon deciduous; stem leaves lanceolate to broadly lanceolate or egg-shaped, unstalked and usually clasping, 8-18 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, entire or shallowly toothed, glabrous or nearly so and tending to be glaucous.
Flowers:
Heads with ray and disk flowers, few to many in an open, round-topped inflorescence; involucres 5-7 mm tall; involucral bracts graduated, linear or often awl-shaped, sharply pointed with elongate green tips, margins fringed with small hairs; ray flowers 15-30, blue or purple, 6-10 mm long; disk flowers yellow.
Fruits:
Achenes 4-5 nerved, glabrous; pappus usually reddish.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Symphyotrichum laeve var. geyeri

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
809 809 809
Slope Gradient (%)
43 43 43

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

139 140 140
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 3 3
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1
Modal BEC Zone Class
ICH

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

ICH(1)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry meadows and forests in the lowland and montane zones; common in S BC east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains and S of 55degreeN, less frequent in NE BC and S Vancouver Island, lacking from NW BC; N to NT, E to ON and S to KS, MO, UT, NM and OR.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Aster geyeri (A. Gray) Howell
Aster laevis subsp. geyeri
Aster laevis var. geyeri A. Gray
Aster laevis var. guadalupensis A.G. Jones
Aster pickettianus Suksd.