Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Aster abatus, Aster mohavensis, Aster orcuttii, Machaeranthera orcuttii
Other common names
Mojave woody-aster
Mohave aster
Mojave aster
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Xylorhiza wrightii
Height
8 to 30 inches
Riparian
No
Subshrubs, much-branched thickened, woody stems grow just above or below the ground; stems branched near the base and middle of the plant but not near stem tips; leaves and stems glandular and often hairy; flower heads white to pale purple and yellow.
Large, woody taproot; stems much branched from woody base; flower heads solitary, white, bluish to pale purple ray, disc flowers yellow, bracts (phyllaries) in several graduated series, tips erect or spreading; achenes large; spring flowering.
Habitat
Found on sandy or gravelly slopes and flats, often over clay, alkaline, barren areas, in creosote bush, sagebrush, shadscale, blackbrush, and juniper communities.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
6000
Flower Characteristics
Flower heads solitary at the ends of nearly smooth, 10 inch glandular stems; ray flowers pale purple, disc yellow; phyllaries (ring of bracts around the flower head) 25 to 45, graduated in 3 to 6 series, narrowly lance-like.
Flower color
White to pale purple rays, yellow disc flowers
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves alternate, not stalked, blades narrow to lance-like to reverse lance-like, to 4 inches long, often sub-clasping (almost wrap stem), margins with sharp spine-tipped teeth, faces glandular, sometimes also loosely hairy.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green to green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Topped with a persistent tawny (light yellow brown), unequal-length barbed bristles (pappus).
Fruit type
Achene