Symphyotrichum cusickii

(A. Gray) G. L. Nesom

Phytologia 77: 278. 1995.

Common names: Cusick’s aster
Endemic
Basionym: Aster cusickii A. Gray Notes Compositae, 99. 1880
Synonyms: Aster foliaceus var. cusickii (A. Gray) Cronquist
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 20. Treatment on page 532. Mentioned on page 476, 534.

Perennials, 40–100 cm, colonial or cespitose; long-rhizomatous. Stems 1–5+, ascending to erect, glabrous or puberulent. Leaves thin, margins entire, apices acute, faces glabrous or puberulent; basal often withering by flowering, petiolate, blades broadly elliptic to obovate, 5–200 × 10–35 mm, attenuate or cuneate, margins entire, apices acute; proximalmost cauline sometimes withering by flowering, sessile, blades oblanceolate to obovate, 70–120 × 15–50 mm, bases strongly clasping, enlarged and usually narrowed distally, usually prominently auriculate, margins entire, apices acute; distal sessile, blades lanceolate to broadly elliptic, 30–110 × 10–30 mm, bases truncate or auriculate, margins entire. Heads borne singly or in often congested, paniculiform arrays, branches 20–30 cm. Peduncles sparsely to densely cinereous, bracts lanceolate. Involucres campanulate, 10–20 mm. Phyllaries in 4–5 series, broadly to narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate (outer) to linear (inner), ± equal or outer slightly exceeding inner, bases outer foliaceous, inner scarious, margins scarious, entire or erose, green zones elliptic to lanceolate, apices acute, faces glabrous or finely hairy. Ray florets 25–55; corollas violet, laminae 10–18 × 1–2 mm. Disc florets 60–150+; corollas yellow, 2.5–4 mm, lobes triangular, 0.4–0.5 mm. Cypselae brown, cylindric to obovoid, not compressed, 3–3.5 mm, 3–6-nerved, faces hairy; pappi white, 5–9(–11) mm. 2n = 16, 32.


Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Damp meadows in dry forests, often near springs and streams
Elevation: 1000–1500 m

Distribution

V20-1183-distribution-map.gif

Alta., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Symphyotrichum cusickii occurs principally in north-eastern Oregon, north-central Idaho, and adjacent western Montana.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Symphyotrichum cusickii"
Luc Brouillet +, John C. Semple +, Geraldine A. Allen +, Kenton L. Chambers +  and Scott D. Sundberg† +
(A. Gray) G. L. Nesom +
Aster cusickii +
Cusick’s aster +
Alta. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
1000–1500 m +
Damp meadows in dry forests, often near springs and streams +
Flowering Jul–Aug. +
Aster foliaceus var. cusickii +
Symphyotrichum cusickii +
Symphyotrichum sect. Occidentales +
species +