Ionactis alpina

Ionactis alpina (formerly Aster scopulorum; common name Lava Ankle-aster) is a species of aster known by the common name lava aster. It is native to western United States from California to Montana,[2] where it grows in dry areas.[3]

Ionactis alpina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Ionactis
Species:
I. alpina
Binomial name
Ionactis alpina
(Nutt.) Greene 1897
Synonyms[1]
  • Aster scopulorum A.Gray 1880
  • Chrysopsis alpina Nutt. 1834 not Aster alpinus L. 1753
  • Diplopappus alpinus (Nutt.) Nutt.
  • Leucelene alpina (Nutt.) Greene

Description

Ionactis alpina is a perennial herb growing from a caudex and fibrous root system. It produces a short, mostly erect, hairy stem up to 12 centimeters (4.8 inches) in height. Most of the small leaves are on the lower part of the stem. They are up to about a centimeter (0.4 inches) long, oval to lance-shaped and pointed, somewhat stiff and coated in hairs.[4]

The inflorescence bears solitary flower heads with purple-green phyllaries, 7–21 thin blue, purple, or occasionally white ray florets surrounding 19–50 long yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene.[4]

References
  1. The Plant List, Ionactis alpina (Nutt.) Greene
  2. Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  3. University of Waterloo (Canada), Astereae Lab, Ionactis alpina Lava Ankle-aster
  4. Flora of North America, Ionactis alpina (Nuttall) Greene, 1897. Lava ankle-aster


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