E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Symphyotrichum pilosum (Willd.) G.L. Nesom var. pilosum
hairy aster
Asteraceae (Aster family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants
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Distribution of Symphyotrichum pilosum var. pilosum
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a stout, woody stem-base; stems erect, branched above, glabrous or sometimes soft-hairy, 0.1-1.5 m tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves soon deciduous; stem leaves soon deciduous below, middle ones oblanceolate, stalked, 5-10 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, upper ones linear to lance-elliptic, unstalked or nearly so, entire or slightly toothed, glabrous to hairy, becoming reduced upward and awl-shaped.
Flowers:
Heads with ray and disk flowers, few to more usually numerous in an often diffuse inflorescence, sometimes one-sided on the branches; involucres 3.5-8 mm tall; involucral bracts subequal or graduated, with a loose, awl-shaped, marginally inrolled, green tip; ray flowers 16-35, white or sometimes pink or purple, 5-10 mm long; disk flowers yellow.
Fruits:
Achenes about 1 mm long, hairy; pappus of numerous white, hairlike bristles.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Purple
Blooming Period:
Late Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present over the Fall
Source:  The USDA

Habitat / Range

Moist to dry railroad tracks, roadsides and disturbed areas in the lowland zone; rare in the lower mainland of SW BC; introduced from E North America.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Aster ericoides var. platyphyllus Torr. & A. Gray
Aster ericoides var. villosus (Michx.) Torr. & A. Gray
Aster juniperinus Burgess
Aster pilosus Willd.
Aster pilosus var. pilosus
Aster pilosus var. platyphyllus (Torr. & A. Gray) S.F. Blake
Aster ramosissimus auct. non Mill.
Aster villosus Michx.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References