Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Aster arenosus, Aster ericaefolius, Aster hirtifolius, Aster leucelene, Inula ericoides, Leucelene ericoides
Other common names
smallflower aster
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 4 inches
Riparian
No
Small clumping plant with many small flower heads of white ray flowers and yellow discs. Stems from a woody caudex, numerous, much-branched, more-or-less hairy, sometimes glandular. Ericoides means heath-like and refers to the plants leaves.
Woody based rhizomatous perennial up to 4 inches, stems highly branched with appressed hairs. Leaves alternate, linear and glandular hairy. Flowers have white to pinkish ray petals around yellow disc flowers, base of pointed purple-tipped greenish bracts.
Habitat
Open dry sites up to pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
White ray petals and yellow projecting disc flowers to 5/8 inch wide are found on the tips of branches. In the early afternoon, the ray flower petals start to curl downward. Flower heads solitary on numerous slender branches.
Flower color
White ray flowers, yellow disc flowers
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Short, narrow heath-like leaves, sessile, more or less appressed and overlapping along stem, blades narrow with smooth margins and apices spine-like. Stems hairy and can be sticky.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Small, flattened, hairy fruit is tipped with numerous minute, white, barbed bristles. The fruit contains one small seed.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Brown