Big Bend woody-aster

Aster wrightii A. Gray, Smithsonian Contr. Knowl. 5(6): 75. 1853; Machaeranthera wrightii (A. Gray) Cronquist & D. D. Keck

Subshrubs or perennials, (15–)20–40(–54) cm. Stems branched mostly in proximal ³ / 4 , glabrous, densely stipitate-glandular. Leaf blades spatulate to obovate or oblong, rarely elliptic, 5–24 mm wide, bases attenuate, not clasping, margins flat, toothed to entire (densely short-ciliate), faces densely stipitate-glandular, otherwise glabrous. Peduncles 5–10 cm. Involucres (20–)25–35(–40) × (20–)28–40(–48) mm. Ray florets (18–)24–32(–34); corollas usually light blue to purple, rarely white. Style- branch appendages equaling or shorter than stigmatic lines. 2n = 12.

Flowering Mar–May. Barren areas, alkaline, rocky-clay soil, gypsum or limestone flats, shaly slopes, rocky hills, dominated by saltbush, creosote bush, catclaw, and yucca; 700–1100 m; Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua).