Cascade aster

Aster engelmannii (D. C. Eaton) A. Gray var. ledophyllus A. Gray, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 8: 388. 1872; A. ledophyllus (A. Gray) A. Gray

Perennials, 20–80 cm (caudices stout). Stems erect, pilose to stipitate-glandular. Leaves: mid and distal blades lance-elliptic to oblong, 2.5–7 cm × 5–20 mm, abaxially glabrous, sparsely pubescent, or ± densely cottony and, sometimes, stipitate-glandular, adaxially glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Heads 3–20 in racemiform to corymbiform arrays. Peduncles pilose to stipitate-glandular. Involucres turbinate, 7–11 mm. Phyllaries in 3–5 series (usually reddish at margins and apices), lanceolate (strongly unequal), apices acute to acuminate, abaxial faces puberulent to stipitate-glandular. Rays 5–21, purple. Cypselae pilose; pappus bristles in 2 series, smooth or ± barbellate. 2n = 18.

Eucephalus ledophyllus may intergrade with E. engelmannii in the northern part of its range.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): w United States.