Ionactis alpina

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
Synonyms

Aster scopulorum

Ionactis alpina (formerly Aster scopulorum) is a species of aster known by the common name lava aster. It is native to western North America from California to Montana, where it grows in dry areas.

Description

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

The inflorescence bears solitary flower heads with purple-green phyllaries, thin purple ray florets and long yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene.

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