Ionactis linariifolius (L.) Greene
Flax-leaved aster, stiff aster
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Ionactis From two Greek words meaning “violet rays”
Species linariifolius With linear leaves, like Linaria
About plant names...
Flax-leaved or stiff aster is a North American native, named for its distinctive needle-like leaves.
Identification: Plants are 4-20″ (10-50 cm) tall, with one or
multiple mostly unbranched stems emerging directly from the ground, though branching may occur
in the flowering portion. Stems vary from light green to tan to dark reddish brown.
Plants may be upright or listing
just above the ground.
The alternate leaves are ¾-1½ ⨉ ⅛″ (1.9-3.8 cm ⨉ 3.2 mm),
shiny, sessile , linear , and pointed, like spruce needles .
They lack teeth, but leaf edges are rough.
Flowers may be solitary or in panicles . Flowers are ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) across, with 10-20 rays that
are lavender-colored, and yellow central disks that become red-brown with age. They appear from August to October.
See our aster comparison table here.
Or check Arieh Tel's well-researched and informative
aster comparison site .
Online References:
Illinois Wildflowers
Www.nttlphoto.com
Delawarewildflowers.org
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
Hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest , Oxford University Press, 2006 , p. 22
9/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
9/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
7/20/2023 · Curtis Farm Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm)
9/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Aster linariifolius L.
Aster linariifolius L. var. victorinii Fernald
Ionactis linariifolius description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
10/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
10/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)
10/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
9/10/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm)
9/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)
7/20/2023 · Curtis Farm Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
9/10/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 3½″ (14 × 9.4 cm)
Range:
About this map...
Home   
Species