Eucephalus engelmannii
Encyclopedia
Eucephalus engelmannii (formerly Aster engelmannii) is a species of aster
known by the common name Engelmann's aster. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to California
to Colorado
, where it grows in mountain woods and meadows. It is a perennial herb growing from a woody caudex
and sending a slender, branching, hairy stem to a maximum height near 1.5 meters. The mostly hairless leaves are generally oval in shape and up to 10 centimeters long, with the lowest ones much reduced. The inflorescence
holds several flower heads
lined in keeled, pointed, hairy-edged phyllaries
with purplish margins at the tips. Each head has several white to pinkish or light violet ray florets each up to 2 centimeters long and a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common name Engelmann's aster. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where it grows in mountain woods and meadows. It is a perennial herb growing from a woody caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
and sending a slender, branching, hairy stem to a maximum height near 1.5 meters. The mostly hairless leaves are generally oval in shape and up to 10 centimeters long, with the lowest ones much reduced. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
holds several flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
lined in keeled, pointed, hairy-edged phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
with purplish margins at the tips. Each head has several white to pinkish or light violet ray florets each up to 2 centimeters long and a center of yellow disc florets. The fruit is a hairy achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
.