Aster tataricus

Plants 50–150(–300) cm, densely colonial; rhizomes fleshy, ± woody with age, with abundant fibrous roots. Stems 1–3+, erect, sparsely to densely (distally) strigillose. Leaves basal and cauline, very coarse, margins scabrous, apices mucronate, faces scabrous; basal usually deciduous by flowering; proximal cauline persistent, long-petiolate (petioles ± winged, bases sheathing), blades strongly 1-nerved, oblanceolate, 300–500 × (50–)60–120 mm, bases attenuate, margins undulate, recurved, coarsely serrate, teeth mucronate, apices acuminate, acute, or rounded; mid and distal subpetiolate to sessile, blades oblanceolate to lanceolate, 40–180 × 10–50 mm, bases attenuate to cuneate, sheathing, margins serrate or entire, apices acute to acuminate; distal (arrays) abruptly reduced, lanceolate, 5–10 mm, apices acute to acuminate. Heads 14–50+ in corymbiform arrays, branches ascending. Involucres campanulate, (6.5–)7–10(–12) mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, ovate to lanceolate (outer) or linear-lanceolate to linear (inner), green to base along midnerves or outer sometimes largely foliaceous, apices acute (outer) to long-acuminate (inner), abaxial faces glabrous or sparsely strigillose. Rays 14–30; laminae pale lavender or purple, 10–15 × 1.5–2.5 mm. Disc florets (20–)25–30(–50); corollas light yellow turning lavender at least in lobes, (4.5–)5–6 mm, tubes about as long as campanulate throats. Cypselae light brown, linear-obconic, slightly compressed or plump, 1.5–2 mm, nerves 4–5(–6), faces glabrate to thinly strigillose; pappi white or cream-colored, 6–8 mm, shorter than disc corollas. 2n = 54.

Phenology: Flowering fall.
Habitat: Fields, open roadsides
Elevation: 0–1000 m

Introduced; Ala., Conn., Del., Ga., Ill., Iowa, Ky., Mass., Mich., N.J., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., Tenn., W.Va., Eurasia (native to s Siberia).

Discussion

Aster tataricus has been reported from Maryland, Missouri, and Virginia; I have not seen supporting specimens.

Cultivars of Tatarian aster are grown in North America (J. C. Semple et al. 2002), where they sometimes escape from cultivation.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa