Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Dieteria biegelovii, Aster bigelovii, Dieteria canescens var. incana, Machaeranthera bigelovii and more see SEINET
Other common names
Purple tansy aster
sticky aster
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or perennial
Similar species
Dieteria canescens
Height
8 to 40 inches
Riparian
No
Taprooted; tall, stems erect, moderately branched, brownish stems bearing a sparse covering of thin leaves, topped by pinkish-purple to purple flowers, each consisting of around 30 ray florets.
Stems with diffuse glandular hairs, rarely branching at the base; flower bracts in several series, green tipped, glandular and spreading; leaves sometimes toothed, but not spiny; ray flowers pinkish-purple to purple, disc flowers yellow.
Habitat
Found on rocky slopes, in canyons, and along roadsides.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Showy flowers with radiating pinkish-purple to purple ray flowers with yellow centers (disc flowers) on stiff stems; whorls of bracts below with sticky hairs. Flowers about 1-1/2 inches.
Flower color
Purple to pinkish-purple
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
November
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Sometimes toothed narrow leaves mostly near the base, slightly hairy, glandular, alternate and sessile (without stems).
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Slightly hairy with fine, hairs slightly pressed against leaves and stems, about 1/8 inch long. Topped with bristles.
Fruit type
Achene